Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2024
41. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work being done in his Department to promote the use of modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5719/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraModern methods of construction, or MMC, is a key way of helping to address Ireland’s housing needs. MMC has the potential to increase productivity and efficiency, improve delivery, and reduce cost and waste in construction.
My Department, alongside the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, published the ‘Roadmap for increased adoption of Modern Methods of Construction in public sector housing delivery’ in July last year. The 28-action Roadmap takes a holistic approach to improving the MMC ecosystem.
Coordination of activities to promote MMC development and adoption is being led under Housing for All by my Department which now chairs an interdepartmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group to drive government supported MMC-relevant initiatives.
These include:
• The ConstructInnovate Construction Technology Centre
• The National Demonstration Park for MMC
• The Build Digital project
• The Built to Innovate awareness campaign
• The Roadmap for MMC in public housing delivery (referred to above)
• 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
In conjunction with the above initiatives, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is also facilitating MMC adoption in public housing. Additional resources have been deployed to support local authority delivery and the Department of Housing is working with Local Authorities to delivery approximately 1500 dwellings using Modern Methods of Construction through the Accelerated Housing Delivery programme. A specific focus for the Housing Agency is to incorporate MMC into the social housing build programme, and a guidance document now exists for the provision of “design and build” housing projects using MMC.
