Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
940. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has given any consideration in supporting a new Home Market Tech Fund (details supplied) to broaden the scope of solution-based housing policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38844/23]
View answerModern methods of construction (MMC), a key way of helping to address Ireland’s housing needs, have the potential to increase productivity and efficiency, improve delivery, and reduce cost in construction.
Coordination of activities to promote MMC adoption is being led under Housing for All by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which now chairs an interdepartmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group to drive government supported MMC-relevant initiatives.
These include:
• The ConstructInnovate - Ireland's new construction technology research centre
• The National Demonstration Park for MMC
• The Build Digital project
• The Built to Innovate initiative
• A Public Procurement Roadmap for MMC
• An Introductory Guide to MMC for the non-technical reader/general public to enhance consistency of understanding and the use of MMC terminology
• Training for industry and procurers in MMC
My Department is also facilitating MMC adoption in public housing. Additional resources have been deployed to support local authority delivery. A specific focus is to expand the use of 'Design & Build' forms of contracts and enable MMC in the social housing build programme. A guidance document to support delivery bodies in this was published The Housing Agency earlier this year.
These measures will support accelerated delivery of housing utilising MMC to enhance the scope of solution based housing policies. Supports for businesses are a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
