A call has been issued to step up the implementation of modern methods in construction to accelerate national housing delivery.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD, hosted a construction sector stakeholder event focused on identifying ways to drive innovation and boost productivity in residential construction, including through the adoption of MMC.

The event is part of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment led cross-Departmental and cross-agency initiative on MMC under Housing for All.

Stakeholders heard updates on various Government initiatives currently underway to speed up delivery times for new home construction, increase use of off-site manufacturing and drive transformation in the sector. They include Enterprise Ireland's new €5m Construct Innovate Technology Centre and increasing digitalisation in the sector through TU Dublin's Build Digital initiative.

Industry and professional bodies from across the residential construction value chain engaged on further steps that could be taken to remove barriers to MMC adoption and effective ways of encouraging innovation. Together with representatives from a cross-section of State agencies and bodies active in supporting the transformation of the sector, from certification though to procurement, digitisation and upskilling, they also reflected on the long-term vision for the industry.

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Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney T.D., said: "We all know that solving the housing crisis is a complex challenge that requires a collective effort to speed up delivery times. Government is committed to working with the construction sector to embrace innovation and boost productivity in house building, to ensure it delivers the Government's ambition in Housing for All.

"Ireland has a track record of being an innovator in commercial and industrial building and our abilities in house and apartment building, need to be part of that reputation.

"We need to step up our collaboration between the public and private sector to develop and implement workable solutions to accelerate the adoption of innovation and modern methods in construction."

The feedback captured during the event will be used to inform the development of a roadmap for MMC adoption in publicly procured residential construction, a priority action the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is leading with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the updated Housing for All Action Plan. This work includes progressing MMC in procurement frameworks and addressing related implementation challenges across regulation, skills development, targets for MMC in public procurement, and capacity building/leadership in the construction sector.

This is the first in a series of construction industry engagements planned by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for 2023.