# Construction
Last month
August 2023
50,000 new recruits needed in construction sector to meet Government's Housing for All targets
A ‘narrow perceived image’ of the construction industry is harming efforts to recruit new entrants, particularly women and young people.
Debunked: Government has not forbidden business grants and modular homes for Irish people
A video viewed more than 47,000 times claimed modular homes don’t pass safety regulations for Irish people.
This year
2023
Contractors on public works projects to be better protected by state from inflation
Announcing the measure, Paschal Donohoe said that the construction industry had faced significant challenges in the past two years.
State's system of earmarking land for new housing is 'fundamentally flawed', TDs to be told
The Construction Industry of Federation says the amount of land zoned for new homes is behind the actual need.
Dublin Fire Brigade to tell TDs that fire safety will be 'integral' to use of rapid-build homes
Traditional building methods have undergone a vast amount of large-scale testing, an Oireachtas committee will hear today.
SIAC Construction: Appeals for builder to clarify future of 100 jobs as it enters High Court
The High Court heard today that there is insufficient cash to pay roughly 100 workers at two of SIAC Construction’s companies.
FactFind: Was the 2008 crash caused by building too many houses?
A suggestion Ireland risks building too many homes ignited controversy.
Experts said that too many homes had been built where there was little demand.
“The laws of supply and demand ... were not applying to the housing market" - inquiry chairman.
However, economists said the current demand for homes is far from being met.
Opinion: We could improve our planning law - instead the public is being excluded
The draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 is a solution in search of a problem, say Alison Hough and Gavin Elliott.
Visitors to National Children's Hospital to pay maximum charge of €10 for 24-hour parking
The private operator of the new hospital’s car park is to be required to make a “premium up-front payment” of €5 million to operate it.
Last year
2022
Rory Hearne: The housing game is rigged and it's time we called it out
The housing expert says waiting for the market to fix the housing crisis is ‘like waiting for Godot’ – he’s calling on everyone to join the Raise the Roof protest.
FactCheck: Is the State the ‘biggest player in housing’?
The Taoiseach made this claim multiple times in the Dáil since 2021
Construction company building hundreds of social housing units goes into examinership
The company has 48 employees and also engages the services of subcontractors.
Government still €2bn behind annual expenditure target for housing as end of year approaches
Critics say shortfalls show Housing For All goals won’t be reached this year
National Children's Hospital will cost more than €1.43 billion by 2024 completion date
The final cost may not be known until years after construction ends due to legal claims.
Taoiseach dismisses concerns about investor funds selling homes between each other for €1.7m
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the solution is ramping up supply.
Michael Flatley settles claim over alleged deficiencies during work on his Cork house
The claim concerning fire damage to the historic Castle Hyde was heard in the High Court.
Builders' levy should help pay for works on thousands of defective apartments, says Bacik
Government will have to provide assistance, Leo Varadkar has said.
Opinion: The last thing this housing market needs is a subsidy for developers
The Social Democrats are asking the government to scrap the subsidy for developers – Cian O’Callaghan explains why.
Govt to pay up to 70% of inflation-related construction costs on State projects
The minister says there is a real risk of projects not being completed if the State didn’t step in.
Dr Lorcan Sirr: Ukrainian refugees can be housed quickly and easily if government acts now
The senior lecturer in housing says the urgent need to house Ukrainian refugees may be what Ireland’s housing crisis needs, with political will.
'We've never seen increases like this': Pressure on builders over soaring timber and steel costs
According to the latest available figures, timber prices rose 64% in a year while steel prices are up almost 30%.
Fewer new homes recorded in 2021 but increase in construction by end of year
16.5% more dwellings were under construction in the final quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
All time
'It came at a cost': Taoiseach regrets shutting down construction for four months
This government plans to go all the way, Micheál Martin tells Political Correspondent Christina Finn.
The Taoiseach says they shut down construction as the government wanted to be 'ruthless' in dealing with the Alpha variant wave, reports Christina Finn.
Martin said it is his 'desire not to' ever close down construction again.
There will be a renewed effort on ramping up bed capacity in 2022, he says.
Liverpool set to start work on Anfield expansion
The club aims to increase capacity of their home stadium to more than 61,000.
Mica and pyrite scandals - could it still happen today?
Experts have said new legislation is needed to ensure building supplies are checked by independent parties.
Larry Donnelly: Donegal takes a strident stand for justice over mica with Boston at its back
The Donegal diaspora in the US is mobilising in support of homeowners seeking compensation for mica damage to their homes.
Number of residential units sent for planning dropped by 29% in first quarter of this year
The type of residential units subject to commencement has seen a “substantial shift” towards housing over apartments.
Contractor BAM takes High Court action against National Children's Hospital board
BAM is the primary contractor building the new children’s hospital in Dublin.
Phased return of construction from 12 April criticised as 'economic and societal own goal'
The Taoiseach said that the resumption of house builds from 12 April includes home refurbishments.
Building company launches High Court action against government's construction shutdown
It claims the private construction sector is being unfairly discriminated against.
Housing minister says construction sector is set to reopen on 5 March
The minister said the building of homes is an “essential service”.
Every week of lockdown between 700 and 800 houses will not be built, says minister
The lockdown will mean housing targets could be off by between 6,500 and 7,000 new homes,
Level 5 lockdown to be reviewed next week, but government expected to extend restrictions to late February
Government sources state that it is still their intention to get schools reopened in February.
'About 30%' of construction sites remaining open despite Level 5 shutdown
Some of the biggest FDI sites in the country are open under government exemptions.
Construction workers face cost of restrictions as PUP recipients rise to nearly 400,000
Almost 400,000 people will receive the PUP tomorrow, an increase of 18.7% on last week.
Explainer: Here is how today's construction lockdown will impact building projects
Despite the lockdown there are a number of construction projects that can continue.
'Non-essential' construction sites to close but exemptions including social housing projects near completion can continue
There are a number of exemptions to the order.
Teens called on to design 'home for everyone' in construction competition
Winners will have the option of taking a Construction Industry Federation scholarship or access to its apprenticeship programme.
Government expects 25,000 new homes built in 2021 - half by State or approved housing bodies
The shutdown of the industry slowed progress this year but it is unlikely further lockdowns would stop construction.
