Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way in which he intends to promote modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12906/25]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which modular housing will be utilised to meet housing targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12905/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 59 together.

The use of Modern Methods of Construction is a key measure to support the delivery of housing under Housing for All and the Programme for Government.

Modern Methods of Construction or MMC is the term used to describe a range of manufacturing and innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction. MMC has the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector. MMC includes dwellings constructed from both three dimensional modular systems and two dimensional panelised systems. All MMC systems must comply with Building Regulations and have a 60 year durability.

The coordination of initiatives across Government to promote MMC adoption is led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through the interdepartmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group.

These initiatives support the development of the supply chain for MMC through the Construct Innovate Technology Research Centre hosted by the University of Galway; the National Demonstration Park for MMC at the National Construction Training Campus in County Offaly; the Built to Innovate initiative for innovative management led by Enterprise Ireland; the development of standardised approaches for the design of housing led by my Department, and training for industry led by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science.

MMC is central to the Government’s Accelerated Social Housing Delivery Programme. This programme is led by my Department and will see the delivery by 13 local authorities of at least 1,500 social homes using Modern Methods of Construction across approximately 36 sites. It is intended to expand the use of the Design and Build procurement approach to enable greater use of MMC in social and affordable housing delivery.

Separately, the Department is engaging with Wexford Local Authority with regards to piloting a number of three dimensional modular units which are expected to tender in the first half of 2025.

A standardised design approach is key in facilitating the ease of adoption of MMC. To support a standardised approach, my Department has identified a number of designs from the Design Manual for Quality Housing, which have been adjusted to allow for ease of delivery utilising different forms of MMC, including three dimensional modular systems.

The Programme for Government also includes a range of initiatives to support the use of MMC. This includes binding targets for the use of MMC which includes modular units in at least 25% of all State-backed housing and a MMC Innovation Fund via the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to directly fund new housing factories, and the expansion of existing factories.