The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, has welcomed proposals submitted by the Forum for the Construction Industry to increase construction capacity.

The report, which contains almost 70 recommendations on tackling and removing supply side constraints on the capacity of the sector, was submitted to the Minister in August.

"The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure Development has decided to establish an inter-departmental sub-group on construction capacity, led by my Department. This sub-group has been mandated to prepare an action plan to increase capacity, drawing on the recommendations in the Forum's final report, by the end of October 2000," the Minister said.

The report covers three broad areas - manpower; continuous product and process improvement; and regulatory and planning environment.

Among the recommendations are: provision of substantial additional apprenticeship places; the development of modular and flexible courses for architects; and the introduction of innovative remuneration packages to enable local authorities to retain existing experienced planners and to recruit additional planners. The report also recommended product and process improvement through fostering a culture of technology and using information and communications technologies in procurement.