Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 October 2025
127. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is evaluating to reduce building costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53465/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe reduction of construction costs is a key priority of both the Government and my Department.
Under Housing for All, my Department has implemented a range of initiatives to reduce costs and improve productivity including promoting the use of modern methods of construction, standardisation, lean methods of construction and digitalisation. These include the Accelerated Social Housing Delivery Programme, Construct Innovate and Built-to-Innovate.
In addition to these initiatives, “The Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2025” (the Guidelines) were recently issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000). The proposed changes when compared to the previous Guidelines could, depending on the particular circumstances of a particular scheme, result in a c. €50k to €100k cost reduction per unit.
I have also recently published the Standardised Design Approaches study. This report identifies approaches to design, standardisation and MMC that have the potential to reduce costs in the range of 4.4% to 12.5% for different dwelling types.
My Department published a Residential Construction Cost Study in 2023 and Total Development Cost Study in 2024. A further Total Development Cost Study based on 2025 costs is planned to be published shortly. These reports provide an evidence base to inform policy.
I expect all of the above measures will allow projects and programmes to become more efficient and streamlined ensuring cost savings.
Further initiatives to reduce cost are being considered as part of the development of the new housing plan and will be announced when the plan is published
