Sir, – The Government’s Housing for All strategy aims to leverage modern methods of construction (MMC) to accelerate construction and lower costs to address housing demand. However, these potential benefits are continually undermined by a slow, cumbersome planning process and infrastructure gaps. Hubert Fitzpatrick, director general of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), has repeatedly emphasised the lack of basic utilities on sites zoned for housing, making it nearly impossible to proceed with construction. There is little point in zoning land if it cannot be serviced. He also advocates forward-thinking infrastructure planning to support Ireland’s growth over the next 20 to 30 years, not just the short-term future.
This “infrastructure gap” hinders MMC and discourages private-sector investment. Developers are facing extended timelines and rising costs because of the absence of development-ready sites. Initiatives like Project Tosaigh, led by the Land Development Agency (LDA) to deliver 5,000 homes by 2026, are repeatedly delayed due to these issues. Without a streamlined planning process and infrastructure readiness, the Government’s revised target of 50,000 new homes annually is at serious risk.
Additionally, a significant workforce shortage exacerbates these challenges. The Technological University of the Shannon reported that Ireland needs to recruit 120,000 additional skilled workers and re-skill 164,000 existing workers by 2030 to support the expansion of MMC. Mr Fitzpatrick also highlights the importance of encouraging more young people, particularly women, to consider careers in construction. Without addressing these labour shortages, even the most promising housing solutions will be delayed.
To address these obstacles, immediate action is needed.
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Establish an infrastructure readiness fund to ensure that housing sites have utilities in place before planning approvals.
Strengthen coordination between planning bodies and utility providers to eliminate bottlenecks, ensuring developments are “shovel-ready” as soon as approvals are granted.
Enhance incentives for private sector investment in essential infrastructure to create a more collaborative, prepared environment for housing development.
Housing remains one of Ireland’s most pressing social issues, and with our population projected to grow by nearly one million by 2040, infrastructure planning must look 20 to 30 years ahead, not just the next decade. Countries in the EU, the Commonwealth, and states in the US have already adopted MMC and implemented planning reforms to expedite housing projects. For example, the EU Affordable Housing Initiative under the Green Deal funds MMC adoption and workforce training in digital construction technologies such as building information modelling (BIM). In the UK, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Homes England support MMC training through the Affordable Homes Programme, and in Australia, the Prefabricated Construction Strategy funds workforce training to address labour shortages, with a focus on modular construction.
These international examples demonstrate the importance of aligning housing policy with infrastructure strategy to fully realise the potential of MMC. Without addressing the systemic delays in planning and infrastructure, Ireland’s housing crisis will remain unresolved, despite advances in construction technology.
As we approach the next general election, we continue to hear political soundbites about 2030 targets, but our housing crisis is already at a breaking point. Homelessness is at an all-time high, and planning for 2030 will not resolve the urgent housing needs of today, especially given the expected population growth of one million by 2040.
In my view, none of the political parties are addressing the fundamental issue: the lack of infrastructure readiness. – Yours, etc,
JAMES O’TOOLE,
Swords,
Co Dublin.