Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
109. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the lack of progress in utilising off-site housing construction for the delivery of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49040/23]
View answerModern 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. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction. The Housing for All Action Plan Update and Quarter 3 2022 Progress Report, which was published on 2 November, included a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of MMC in public housing. This Roadmap was published on 11 July 2023 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/414cd-roadmap-for-increased-adoption-of-mmc-in-public-housing-delivery/.
Modern Methods of Construction is used to describe a range of offsite manufacturing and innovative onsite techniques that provide alternatives to traditional house building. Modern Methods of Construction can be completed dwelling units manufactured in a factory setting and transported to site, or panelised components manufactured in a factory and assembled on site. All Modern Methods of Construction systems must be of a high quality, comply with all requirements of the Building Regulations and have a 60-year durability. My Department does not maintain records of the construction methods used for social and affordable housing developments.
Last December funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of a housing proposal, a commitment to use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and for construction to start no later than 2024. A total of 26 sites received funding as part of an accelerated delivery programme, and with some additional sites since added, my Department is overseeing a project to progress delivery of MMC projects on 35 sites which will deliver approximately 1,800 new social homes.
More widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is a key pillar of the Government’s approach to increasing innovation adoption and achieving productivity gains in the delivery of housing. MMC represents a significant ongoing transformation in construction, incorporating increased levels of offsite manufacturing and assembly; new technologies, products and building systems; and increased digitalisation. Though factory-based offsite construction methods are not new, ongoing technological advances, the advent of digitalisation and the environmental sustainability imperative are promoting continued evolution of the construction sector to deliver quality housing.
Furthermore, it is intended to expand the use of a Design and Build procurement approach to enable greater use of MMC in social and affordable housing delivery. Details of social housing projects using Design and Build will be reported each quarter in the Construction Status Report.
