Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1160.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if an assessment has been or is being carried out on the modern methods of construction used at a housing project at Grange Drive, Dundalk, County Louth; if there are plans for further use of this technology in similar schemes in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33184/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address increased housing delivery and methods to support increased use of MMC are set out in Pathway 5 of Housing for All. In July 2023 the Roadmap for increased adoption of MMC in Public Housing delivery was published and sets out recommendations to progress the most advanced and efficient construction methods in the delivery of housing.

Significant progress is being made to deliver the ambitious targets contained in Housing for All and my Department is working closely with the local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and other stakeholders to accelerate the delivery of both social and affordable housing.

Local Authority housing projects are required to meet design requirements as set out in the Department’s publication Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities. During the pre-construction process, all Local Authority housing projects are reviewed by my Department for consistency of the design with these guidelines and with the approved budget.

In addition, all projects, including those employing Modern Methods of Construction are required to meet the requirements of all Parts of the Building Regulations and have a 60-year durability. The primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings (The owner in this instance is the Local Authority, who is also the contracting authority).

The overarching requirements of Part D (Material and Workmanship) of the Building Regulations is that all works should be carried out:

• Using proper materials which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used.
• With a proper standard of workmanship and the appropriate use of any material to achieve compliance with the requirements of the Regulations.
• By competent persons with sufficient training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of the work he or she is required to perform and having particular regard to the size and complexity of such works so as to ensure a proper standard of workmanship.

My Department are not aware of any such assessment for certification being carried out for the project referred to in the question.

It is the responsibility of the contracting authority to ensure the above provisions are met and as such, assessment and certification of specific methods of construction is the responsibility of the parties developing such methods. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the local Building Control Authority.