Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
243. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made on implementing the key recommendation from the 2020 Building Innovation Report to establish and fund a build digital centre of excellence to promote the use of building information modelling in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42143/21]
View answerThe Build Digital Project aims to ensure that world class digital practices, which already exist in certain elements of the Irish construction sector, are adopted throughout the industry and supply chain in order to achieve a more innovative sector from top to bottom. The project will provide guidance and leadership on the necessary digital tools, standards, approaches and training required by all across the construction sector, in particular the small- and medium-sized firms who may have yet to realise the full benefits of digital approaches.
The grant for Build Digital is being administered by my Department. In December 2020, as part of that process, a competitive, challenge-based grant call was launched which invited bidders to deliver the Build Digital Project with up to €2.5 million in public funding over the next five years.
The preferred bidder was chosen in April 2021 with the official launch of the project planned to take place in Autumn 2021.
