Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In the context of its 2023/2024 work programme, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) agreed that a study should be undertaken to determine the skills required to transform Ireland’s construction sector through widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), including offsite manufacturing. The study has sought to identify the nature and quantify the scale of the skills needs of enterprises supporting the transition to MMC in the coming decade; and develop a suite of recommendations that can be drawn up to ensure that the forecasted MMC skills needs are fully addressed by stakeholders through the education and training system and any other relevant source of skills supply.

As part of this research, a survey questionnaire was designed to gather data from the sector and identify the main trends and drivers that will impact on the nature and demand for skills to support the MMC transition in residential construction. Building on this initial stakeholder engagement, a series of structured interviews with key informants were carried out, including sectoral representative organisations and international experts in the MMC space. The emerging findings from the survey and interviews were further discussed with a wider group of enterprises, organisations, and key informants at two workshops.

The findings of the literature review, international benchmarking exercise, and stakeholder consultation insights are currently being drafted into a final report which will be discussed by the project Steering Group. The demand scenario and supply of skills analyses are also being finalised, as are the drafting of the recommendations arising from the study. The final results of the study will be presented to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and publication of the report is expected in Q2 2024.