2010 Irish Building Industry Directory
Foreword
Energy
Efficiency Investment is the key to Economic Recovery
2009 saw the
recession in the construction industry deepen as activity levels in
the key residential and commercial sectors contracted further. Public
sector investment performed in line with expectations during 2009 but
will be constrained by the ongoing pressure on public finances in the
coming years. The reality is that trading conditions facing the industry
will continue to be difficult in 2010. It is unlikely that the prospects
for the industry will begin to pick up before 2011 and this is very
dependent on how the economy in general fares next year and whether
the much anticipated first signs of economic recovery begin to emerge.
It is vital to remember that,
even in these straitened economic times, there are opportunities available
to those who seek them out. The Green Party in Government is succeeding
in bringing the concept of environmental sustainability to the forefront
of the political and public policy agenda and I believe that the priority
afforded to environmental sustainability considerations will continue
to grow and achieve equal billing with economic and social considerations
in the decision making process at national level and beyond.
This transition of itself
brings with it many opportunities. Nowhere are these opportunities more
relevant and apparent than in the construction industry. Take for instance
the highly successful Home Energy Saving Scheme which was launched earlier
this year. The scheme has already attracted the interest of over 36,000
households who have to date applied for grants totalling €41 million
towards the cost of energy efficiency improvements works in their homes.
Savings of over €170 million are expected to accrue to these households
over the lifetime of the installed measures. Other schemes such as the
Greener Homes Scheme for renewable energy technologies and the Warmer
Homes Scheme aimed at low income families have also generated significant
activity. At a time of contraction these new areas of business are invaluable.
Boosting energy efficiency
is good for the environment and makes economic sense. It is a growing
area of innovation with huge commercial and employment potential. The
National Retrofit Programme announced in the recent 2010 Budget will
see €130 million being allocated for energy efficiency measures
in buildings next year. Building on the success of the schemes already
in place, this programme has the potential to create up to 5,000 additional
jobs next year alone. It is important to stress that this initiative
is not a once-off, temporary stimulus introduced in a time of crisis.
It is part of a longterm strategy of retrofitting over one million homes
by 2025. The introduction of the Carbon Tax also included in Budget
2010 will provide an ongoing stream of funding to support ongoing investment
in energy efficiency improvements giving further confidence that the
policy focus here is longterm and sustainable.
While investment in energy
efficiency measures provides a welcome lifeline for the construction
industry and is a key strategic priority on the path to economic recovery,
it is by no means the only construction-related policy issue being pursued
by Government at present. As Minister for the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government I will oversee capital spending of €1.5 Billion
during 2010, which will support key investment in Social Housing provision
and Water Services infrastructure. Capital investment by other Government
Departments will also continue to be significant next year, not least
the ambitious schools programme planned by the Department of Education
and Science.
My Department is also bringing
forward improvements in the building code to ensure that the safety
and quality of our built environment continues to improve over time.
In this regard, several significant improvements to parts of our building
code are well underway and will be introduced in 2010, notably in the
case of Parts H (Drainage and Waste Water Disposal), L (Conservation
of Fuel and Energy) and M (Access for All).
A further challenge for 2010
is the necessary changeover to the Eurocodes as the harmonised basis
for the structural design of construction works within the EU. NSAI
has taken responsibility for implementing the Eurocodes in Ireland and
has been working closely with industry to prepare the way for their
mainstream use. Increasingly the business opportunities for Irish firms
arise in the international arena where we are already competing effectively.
The timely transition to the Eurocodes standards within the domestic
environment will greatly assist our capacity to maintain and improve
our competitive edge and expand our business base within other European
markets.
These and other initiatives,
such as the ongoing reforms of the planning code, urban and rural development
guidelines, the implementation of the Government Policy on Architecture
2009-2015 published earlier and a growing focus on green public procurement
at national and local authority level all provide a context for progress
towards developing a more sustainable built environment.
In conclusion, my message
to the construction industry at this time could not be simpler or clearer.
The future of the industry lies in the delivery of buildings that have
minimal environmental impacts and minimal energy demands. This applies
both to new building activity and to the renovation of existing stock.
Construction firms that can adapt quickly and openly embrace the concept
of environmental sustainability will gain a distinct competitive advantage.
Such firms are best placed to survive in the short term and to thrive
when recovery comes, and come, indeed, it will.
John Gormley,
TD
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
December, 2009
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of the 2010 Irish Building Industry Directory, printed edition.
2009 Irish Building Industry Directory
Foreword
2008 has been a difficult year
for the construction industry following many years of spectacular economic
growth. What we are seeing is the building industry adjusting to a more
sustainable level of activity against the backdrop of the global economic
crisis. Output across all sectors of the industry: residential, commercial
and public is falling. These are challenging times for all of us especially
the residential sector which has been particularly badly hit. This year
has seen a dramatic slowdown in the housing market. It is now expected
that new home completions this year may be less than 45,000. Completions
in 2009 could be less than 30,000.
Despite the economic difficulties,
this time of challenge will present business opportunities for those willing
and able to adapt. The Green Party in Government has quickly built a strong
momentum for change in the area of sustainable construction and I believe
companies that embrace this change will be at a distinct competitive economic
advantage.
Part L Building Regulations
have been revised to achieve a 40% improvement in primary energy consumption
and CO2 emissions in new dwellings; a 60% improvement in primary energy
consumption and CO2 emissions standards will follow in 2010.
In Ireland's second Carbon
Budget which I delivered to the Dail last month I announced that we now
need to plan even beyond these targets and to push the boundaries of environmental
performance of housing further towards the goal of achieving zero carbon
emissions; it is intended to consult extensively with construction industry
interests over the coming year to achieve this goal. From the start of
2009 all dwellings offered for sale or rent, both new and existing, will
require a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate. The improved marketability
of housing that achieves a high BER rating should further incentivise
homeowners and developers to avail of the increasing number of energy
efficient building solutions available.
My Department is working closely
with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in
further developing that Department's programmes for the retro-fitting
of existing dwellings such as the Home Energy Saving Scheme, the Warmer
Homes Scheme and the Greener Homes Scheme which is now in its third year.
Additional activity is being
advanced under my Department's social housing programme. A full audit
of the public housing stock will begin in 2009, to lay the foundation
for a programme of retrofitting, where required, to deliver modern standards
of energy efficiency. In parallel with this audit a number of pilot retrofitting
projects will commence in 2009; the learning derived from these will inform
the wider roll out of the programme to commence once the audit is completed.
I am determined that my Department
is proactive in assisting the industry to adapt itself to meet the demands
of renewable energy technologies and sustainable building approaches.
In this regard the Department has earlier this year developed Acceptable
Construction Details which demonstrate how typical forms of construction
used in Ireland can meet and often exceed the latest energy efficiency
performance standards required in the Building Regulations. These Acceptable
Construction Details which have been developed in close consultation with
industry, have been warmly welcomed as a valuable resource for builders,
designers and trainers throughout the construction industry.
I cannot stress strongly enough
the importance for industry players at this time to adapt quickly to the
new environmentally sustainable operating environment, and use their knowledge
and expertise to innovate further. It is they who will benefit most from
the many business opportunities already emerging and certain to continue
in the years to come.
Mr. John Gormley T.D.
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
December 2008
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2008 Irish Building Industry Directory Foreword
€80 billion for construction
public projects over the next 7 years
2007 will
be remembered as the year when the journey began for the construction
industry in adapting to more sustainable levels of activity. Construction
output nationally peaked at €35.5bn in 2006 but is expected
to contract by 1.5% in 2007 and by a further 6.2% in 2008 before
reverting to growth again in 2009.
While the
very high levels of activity of recent years will not increase year
on year as before the reality is all key areas of the industry will
nonetheless continue to enjoy high levels of demand for its output
in coming years. In this context the rebalancing of activity now
taking place within the industry is a necessary and timely development.
Addressing
climate change and reducing greenhouse gases are now central to
political decision-making and public policy formulation and are
among the main priorities for the Green Party in Government. Building
regulations are being changed to ensure heat energy demand and carbon
emissions from new housing will be reduced by 40% relative to existing
standards from July of 2008 and by 60% from 2010 onwards. My ultimate
objective is to achieve a 'zero carbon' standard for new homes.
The drive
towards sustainability is already creating new demands for environmentally
sustainable products and methods of construction and these demands
will continue to gather pace. Planning exemptions for micro-renewable
technologies used to improve heat and energy efficiency in homes
will be extended to retail, commercial and industrial premises and
agricultural holdings early next year. Astute firms capitalising
on the opportunities associated with the growing demand for more
environmentally friendly construction products and procedures will
undoubtedly prosper.
The Government
is the single largest client of the construction industry. It will
invest €80 billion in public capital projects over the next
7 years under the new NDP in areas such as transport infrastructure,
housing, water and waste -water services. Capital investment under
the Public Capital Programme for this year alone amounts to some
€11.8 billion.
The clamour
that value for money be obtained in the procurement of public sector
construction projects is growing ever more insistent. The new regime
of fixed price contracts being introduced for the entire public
sector will play a central role in delivering projects more efficiently
with much better estimation of final project costs at the stage
when contracts are awarded.
It is now
imperative that public bodies and the industry adapt to the new
suite of contracts as these are now mandatory for the entire public
sector. My Department is playing a major role in the initiative;
to date upwards of 800 professional staff employed in the local
government sector have been trained in the operation of the new
contracts.
I will conclude
by wishing all associated with the Irish Building Industry Directory
best wishes for a prosperous New Year.
John Gormley,
TD
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
December, 2007
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