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Housing for All - Innovation and Productivity
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The housing system needs to be placed on a long-term economically sustainable footing.
The Government and relevant State agencies are advancing methods to reduce residential construction costs, and support enhanced innovation and productivity in the sector.
Read the section of Housing for All on Achieving Economic Sustainability .
In the long-term, boosting construction sector productivity and innovation is essential for the delivery of high-quality, environmentally sustainable, and more affordable housing. This is particularly important for Ireland, as reports have shown that construction sector productivity here is relatively low compared to other countries. Innovation (the development and application of new ideas and technologies) is fundamental to boosting productivity and driving better outcomes in terms of products, processes, and services.
Under the Government’s Housing for All plan, toolkits that have been successfully used to boost productivity and innovation in our internationally facing sectors have been adapted to promote Irish construction sector transformation and performance. The Government has expanded the role of the enterprise agencies to support the domestic residential construction sector. In practical terms, this means that Irish homebuilders can now avail of Enterprise Ireland schemes and grant supports that have previously promoted innovation and productivity in internationally facing businesses, for example in the areas of digitalisation, application of Lean, and R&D. Enterprise Ireland has launched the Built to Innovate promotion and industry engagement campaign to drive awareness of these opportunities through the construction sector.
A new Construction Technology Centre (CTC) will be established before the end of 2022. The process to select the host organisation is at an advanced stage. The CTC, like the eight Technology Centres currently in operation, will be resourced by highly qualified researchers. They will provide a unique environment for construction industry-academic collaboration in strategically important areas, including Modern Methods of Construction, with an initial prioritised focus on innovation in housing.
Ultimately, the CTC will accelerate innovation adoption in the construction sector by allowing Irish construction companies to work together on market-focused strategic Research and Development projects, in collaboration with research institutions.
Over many years, the presence of the most productive international firms in Ireland has generated positive spillovers in terms of innovation, talent development and competitiveness across the entire enterprise base. Housing for All tasks IDA Ireland with engaging specifically with international construction firms to encourage participation in the Irish market.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and other relevant Government Departments, along with IDA Ireland have come together to create a robust and compelling pitch, and the IDA will now commence initial market testing with international construction companies.
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