New plan revealed to modernise construction sector in Ireland
The Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Action Plan provides a framework to support the adoption of modern, innovative tools that can improve the sector among the firms that work within it.
It was revealed at an event held at the National Construction Training Campus in Offaly's Mount Lucas where work to build a new National Demonstration Park has now begun.
"I am delighted to publish this landmark Action Plan which will assist in the accelerated adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), a significant representation of my Department's and the Government's commitment to meeting national skills needs,' Ireland's Further Education Minister James Lawless said.
Minister Jim Lawless addresses the event in Mount Lucas
"In addition, the National Demonstration Park will be Ireland's flagship centre for MMC showcasing, learning, and innovation.
'It will build industry and public confidence, technical expertise, and a national ecosystem around MMC."
The MMC Action Plan, which has been developed by the Department of Further and Higher Education in partnership with industry and education providers, sets out 58 targeted actions across eight themes to scale the adoption of MMC across Ireland.
The Demonstration Park, which is co-funded by three government departments, will be operated by the Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB).
Work has begun to build the National Demonstration Park
It is designed to 'showcase leading MMC techniques, provide immersive learning, and support the growth of a national innovation ecosystem', it was confirmed this week.
'The National Demonstration Park for MMC at Mount Lucas represents a pivotal moment for construction education and training in Ireland,' Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive of LOETB, said.
'This isn't just about showcasing cutting-edge building techniques; it's about creating a living classroom where trainees and students, apprentices and professionals can experience, hands-on, the future of the industry.'
He added: "The educational value of this park lies in its ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice, providing immersive learning opportunities that will equip our workforce with the vital skills needed to deliver on national housing and sustainability targets."
The Demonstration Park will house live examples of MMC across a variety of MMC technologies.
It will also serve as a research and training space for new entrants, upskilling professionals, and MMC innovators.
The first units in the Demonstration Park are expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with training and industry and public engagement activity scaling throughout 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Post
18 hours ago
- Irish Post
Budget 2026 day set for October amid rising US tariff pressure and deficit uncertainty
BUDGET 2026 is set to be unveiled on Tuesday, 7 October, in Dublin against a backdrop of rising international uncertainty for the Irish economy. The Government has outlined a €9.4 billion package as part of the Summer Economic Statement, including €7.9 billion in additional public spending and €1.5 billion in tax cuts. However, this package was agreed upon before the recent introduction of 15% tariffs on exports to the United States. This new rate poses a serious threat to Irish trade, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. US President Donald Trump has also hinted at even higher tariffs in the future, mainly due to the trade surplus between the two nations. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, the Government is maintaining its commitment to long-term investment and fiscal stability. Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers have ruled out one-off cost-of-living payments, insisting that Budget 2026 will prioritise sustainability over short-term relief. Their approach reflects caution in a fragile global environment, with the business lobby Ibec and other economic observers urging a measured and prudent strategy. The Summer Economic Statement stated that €5.9 billion of the increased expenditure will go to current spending, with €2 billion directed towards capital investment under the National Development Plan. However, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) has raised concerns about the realism of these projections. It warns that spending overruns are likely in 2026, pointing to evidence that current spending this year has already exceeded budget targets by as much as €2 billion. IFAC also projects a budget deficit of nearly €11 billion next year which is about 3.2% of GNI, excluding corporate tax windfalls. It has criticised the government's signalling that the budget package could be reduced if the global trade environment worsens, arguing that this runs counter to standard economic practice, which recommends increased support during periods of downturn. Nevertheless, Ireland's tax revenues remain strong. Corporate tax receipts have already reached €16 billion this year, with further growth expected in 2026 due to changes in international tax rules. Income tax and VAT revenues are also holding steady, giving the government some room to manoeuvre despite looming deficits. All eyes will be on budget day on October 7th and the preceding weeks for any changes in the US President's tariff rates, which have an outsized impact on the very US-reliant Irish economy. See More: Economy, Irish Budget, Paschal Donohoe, US Tariffs
Irish Post
18 hours ago
- Irish Post
Irish government reveals date new state-of-the-art data centre set to open
A NEW state-of-the-art government data centre is set to be completed by the end of this year, Ireland's Digitalisation Minister Emer Higgins has confirmed. Work began on the site, in Backweston, Co. Kildare, in 2023 and the construction project was completed in July of this year. The internal fit-out is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with services migrating to the new tech centre in early 2026. Ireland's Digitilisation Minister Emer Higgins has provided an update on the new data centre Developed as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), under the European Union's recovery plan, NextGenerationEU, the data centre is set to future proof the delivery of essential digital services in Ireland. 'The Backweston shared Government Data Centre is a fantastic example of how NextGenerationEU funding is delivering real, tangible results,' Minister Higgins said after visting the site this week. 'This complex build was completed on time and on budget, which is a testament to the skill and dedication of everyone involved,' she added. 'It will harness the latest and most efficient technologies to ensure that vital Government data is stored in a secure and energy-efficient way, meeting the Government's technology and energy-saving requirements both now and into the future. 'This state-of-the-art facility will give State bodies the ICT infrastructure they need to work more efficiently, streamline processes, reduce duplication and bring greater consistency to how public services are delivered,' the minister explained. 'It will be operational from 2026 onwards, marking a significant step forward in our digital transformation journey, delivering on commitments in the Programme for Government and ultimately helping us to provide better public services to the people of Ireland. I welcome this important progress.' See More: Data Centre, Emer Higgins, Ireland, Kildare
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: Outlook for tourism is far from sunny
We may be currently enjoying warm weather — but the outlook for our tourism industry is far from sunny, according to that sector's representative body. The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) has sounded a note of warning in its pre-budget submissions, saying the industry is in dire need of a raft of supporting measures, from increased Government investment to the removal of the Dublin Airport passenger cap. Its representatives say that visitor figures from America remain strong, but numbers from Europe and Britain are not as robust, and 'even the domestic market [numbers] are soft'. This is troubling, given the size and scope of the tourism industry — in the broadest sense, it has a presence in practically every village in the country. With the numbers directly or indirectly employed in the tourism sector, warnings about its viability must be taken seriously. It is worth pointing, however, to some of ITIC's points, such as its admission that Irish tourism cannot hope to compete with Mediterranean countries on price. This is immediately obvious to anyone holidaying in Spain, for instance, but it underlines the fact that at a time when rising costs make bargain hunters of all of us, there is better value to be had elsewhere. The ITIC spokesman also said: 'Eurostat came out with figures just last month which showed that Ireland was the second-most expensive country in the EU — so that obviously finds its way through to restaurant bills, pub bills, hotel bills.' There is a certain amount of chicken-and-egg reasoning here. Many Irish citizens would point to high prices for hotels, restaurants, and pubs as contributing to the sense of Ireland being an expensive country, rather than high costs 'finding their way through' to bills in those establishments. Also, ITIC's calls for investment would not sound quite so hollow if they did not coincide with the Oasis concerts this weekend. When those concerts were announced, hotel prices for the relevant dates were hiked immediately, with many Dublin hotels charging twice their usual rate or more. Can the hospitality industry really call for more State investment when many people perceive that parts of that industry are also gouging customers? Heroic action restores faith It is just a couple of months since we had the horrifying case of a man drowning in the River Lee as onlookers chose to film the event rather than trying to help. On that occasion, both the dead man's family and the emergency services were understandably critical of those onlookers, and the situation prompted a general debate about morality and ethics in modern life. It is good to report, then, that a similar situation that also arose in the Lee recently had a better outcome. As reported here, Mohammed Khathiri saved a woman from drowning when she went into the water at George's Quay last week. Looking out his window, Mr Khathiri realised the woman had fallen in, and he ran down to the quayside and jumped into the river to help the woman, pulling her to safety by the quay wall. 'It's just important to save humanity, to be human, and the only way I was able to do it was to run down and get her to safety,' he told Imasha Costa of this parish. It is surely instructive that Mr Khathiri, a father of four who works as a cleaner, chose not to livestream the events unfolding in front of him but instead opted to try to save someone. One would not have thought it necessary to point out that this is by far the better option, but events last May suggest otherwise, and Mr Khathiri's example is all the more valuable as a result. In addition, Mr Khathiri was not born in Ireland. He is originally from Morocco and has lived in Ireland for two years. His instinctive reaction to save another person is a vivid retort to the anti-immigrant sentiment and racist rhetoric that is growing in this country. 'I thank everyone who has called me a hero,' Mr Khathiri told this newspaper. 'But I only did what anyone should do, what any human being would do.' Valued tourism Elsewhere on this page, readers can ponder the value for money to be had in Irish tourism, but an event currently under way in Cork shows that such value can still be found. The Cork on a Fork programme features many of the city and county's finest chefs, food businesses, local producers and growers, with over 100 events including unique dining experiences, street feasts, talks and demos, food trails, and brewery and distillery tours. Many of the events are free of charge. The event underlines the standing of Cork city and county as Ireland's food destination, but it might also be a useful template for tourism across the country in the way local producers of all types, local retail outlets, and local restaurants are involved in the programme. For instance, the very first Cork On A Fork was floated as an idea as recently as 2022 — the speed with which it has become a highlight of the summer on Leeside shows how commitment, energy, and enthusiasm can establish an event in the civic calendar. For more information, see and
