Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2018
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he and his Department have identified issues likely to cause inflation in the property market thereby excluding domestic purchasers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49486/18]
View answerI should first say that responsibility for affordable housing is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, while questions relating to general economic matters are best addressed to me in my capacity as Minister for Finance.
However, what I can say is that, following the launch of the National Development Plan in February 2018, I have established a Construction Sector Group (CSG), chaired by my Department. The role of the CSG is to ensure regular and open dialogue between Government and the construction sector in relation to issues that may impact on the successful delivery of the NDP on a value-for-money basis for the State.
The CSG brings together both key industry segments and relevant representatives from key Government Agencies and Departments. The industry bodies represented are:
- Construction Industry Federation
- Irish Congress for Trade Unions
- Building Materials Federation
- Engineers Ireland
- Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland
- Royal Institute of the Architecture of Ireland
- Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland
- Irish Planning Institute
The production by DPER of a Construction Sector Activity Report will be an important source of evidence to inform discussion of the CSG. A work programme will be developed to set the agenda over the next 18-24 months and will include:
- Working with industry and government bodies to (a) benchmark and improve productivity and environmental sustainability and (b) to modernise public works delivery
- Considering opportunities to introduce reforms within the sector that will help in controlling construction price inflation, improving efficiency and delivering value for money for investment
- The supply of necessary skills and measures enhancing capacity (including potential use of overseas contractors)
- Issues arising from inadequate or ineffective regulation, poor performance and systemic poor quality
While the focus of the CSG is the successful delivery of the NDP rather than the property market, I would expect the work of this group will complement any actions in the space of promoting efficiency and cost effectiveness in the construction sector which should benefit the citizen.
