The Public Sector Magazine Summer 2024

Ireland’s dedicated Magazine for the public sector, semi state bodies and civil service

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ctor

e The n i

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CLIMATE ACTION

g M a az

BUILDING BETTER AND SMARTER

Towards a Sustainable Future

Embracing Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)

‘DOCHAS AT 50’

Championing global justice and sustainable development

SAFETY AT WORK

A NEW ERA FOR IRISH RAIL

CeADAR Ireland’s Centre for AI

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Pia Feeney Director, EY Ireland, Government and Infrastructure Pia.Feeney@ie.ey.com

Arslan Yousaf Associate Director, EY Ireland, Government and Infrastructure Arslan.Yousaf@ie.ey.com

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Public Sector Magazine

Contents Ireland’s dedicated magazine for the Public Sector, Semi State Bodies, Local Government and Civil Servants 12

LMETB: Creating Pathways for FET Learners

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Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB)

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Reinvigorating Ireland’s Equity Capital Markets

A vibrant domestic equity market is an integral element of Ireland’s funding infrastructure

18 22

Ireland’s Enduring Support for Palestine

Ireland’s multifaceted, long-standing tradition of supporting Palestine

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Managing Editor Tommy Quinn tommy@devlinmedia.org Partnership Director Shane Kelly Sales Helen Fairbrother Linda Hickey Martin O’Halloran

ONE supporting veterans of the Defence Forces

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Production Manager Frank Campbell Production & Copy Adele Helene Land Rachel Curran Chapman Design Minx Design ruth@minxdesign.ie

The Public Sector Magazine is an informative guide for Government, Civil, Public Sector and Semi State decision-makers. It is distributed to, amongst others, Government Ministers, Ministers of State, Dáil Members, Senators, Secretaries of Departments, Deputy Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Principal Officers, CEO’s of State and Semi-State Bodies, County Managers, County Councillors, Purchasing Officers, Press Officers, IT Managers and Training Officers, Doctors, Financial Institutions, Unions, Representitive Bodies, Embassies, Public and Private Partnerships and Political Commentators.

Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) ‘Dochas at 50’

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Empowered with APA

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Empowering the people of Ethiopia and Tanzania

Keeping Inclusive Development On The Agenda

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Don Bosco Aid

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Humanity in Conflict

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Teacher Recruitment and Retention Crisis

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Don Bosco Aid’s Abigail Nugent talks about the organisation’s work and its latest projects.

Climate change and conflict continue to drive humanitarian catastrophes affecting millions: Noreen Gumbo is the Director of Global Programmes in Trócaire Funding Deficits and teacher recruitment challenges in Irish schools

Marketing and Communications Solutions

The Public Sector Marketing Institute providing specialist digital marketing and communications services

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Innovation in Training

IACT helps realise the promise of technology to businesses and individuals across Ireland.

Rising To Ireland’s Cybersecurity Challenge

The AI Revolution

AI: Transforming the future of business and society in Ireland

Making it Real: Demystifying & Fostering Adoption of AI

KPMG on how organisations can best make AI work for them.

Implementing Rule of Law

Dualta Roughneen, CEO of CBM Ireland, explores why improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the world’s poorest countries is a critical issue in a time of competing priorities.

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Celebrating 50 years of championing global justice and sustainable development James Douglas of Irish Rule of Law International talks about the organisation’s work with Dóchas.

Bridging the Cyberskills Gap

Ireland’s cybersecurity sector faces a significant skills gap that has widespread implications for its economy and digital infrastructure. 55

Jacqueline Kehoe, Project Manager at Cyber Skills explores why cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and how public organisations can upskill their workforce to rise to the challenge.

Islamic Relief Helping Ireland’s Vulnerable

Yasser Yehiah, General Manager of Islamic Relief Ireland, reflects on the charity’s work

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Transforming Learner Experience

Gerry Fahy, Managing Director of PAT Business School, is head of an organisation with a reputation for transforming learners’ skills and career prospects.

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The National Challenge Fund

Stephen O’Driscoll, from Science Foundation Ireland spotlights the National Challenge Fund

The AI Advantage

CeADAR - driving the accelerated development, deployment and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), for the benefit of companies and public sector organisations (PSOs) in Ireland.

The AI Revolution

Skillnet Ireland and higher education sector leading in artificial intelligence upskilling through cutting-edge co-creation model

Apprentices Wanted

Revival of apprenticeships in Irish construction: A vital step forward.

Advancing Industry Skills

Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board in partnership with Egeplast Ireland Ltd

UISCE

Uisce Éireann, providing public water services to over 80% of Ireland’s population.

Housing Commission Urges Policy Reset

The government’s housing policy requires a “radical” reset

Affordable Housing

The Affordable Housing Purchase (AHP) Scheme aims to provide homes at reduced prices for low and middle-income earners

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Delivering Excellence

130 Galway Rises

Delivering Affordable Homes in Ireland

132 Intel’s European Expansion

Think construction, think Sisk.

John Coleman, of the Land Development Agency, outlines how the organisation is helping deliver affordable new homes in Ireland.

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ESRI Housing Needs Assessment

A report on Ireland’s housing needs by the Economic and Social Research Institute

Tracking Project Ireland 2040 Progress

Minister Paschal Donohoe has launched an updated Investment Projects and Programmes Tracker and updated the MyProjectIreland interactive map.

Reviving Vacant Properties

Introducing a new Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan 98

100 Build 2024

Build 2024 report examines construction sector performance and capacity

102 Energy Performance of Buildings

Rhona Henry Partner | Head of Construction & Engineering Matheson LLP discusses the implications of the recent European Recast Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings 102

106 Surety Bonds Enables Confident Construction

Colm McGrath, MD of Surety Bonds, underscores the company’s unique approach to fostering trust between clients and brokers, which aids the seamless execution of public sector construction projects.

110 Construction Innovation

Transforming Ireland’s construction industry with Modern Methods of Construction

114 Carlow Build

Carlow Build is a dynamic, innovative, specialist off-site manufacturer of light gauge steel modular buildings

116 Building Confidence

Enabling Scale for Modern Methods of Construction in Ireland

121 CPAC Modular - Leading through Innovation

CPAC Modularsetting new standards in off-site modular construction.

123 Modular Beauty

Big Man Modular - creating amazing, beautiful, well-designed living spaces 123

125 The Modular Housing Solution

Modular Express Ireland new designs for Net Zero in Ireland, United Kingdom, and around Europe

128 Building a Better Galway

McDonagh Construction Ltd’s Hughie McDonagh, cites client satisfaction as the main reason for the company’s success.

129 Munster Joinery celebrates 50 years in business Munster Joinery supplying windows and doors to Irish homeowners and the construction industry for 50 years.

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Development and future vision for Galway Intel’s strategic global investment strategy is aimed at maintaining its competitive edge in the semiconductor industry

134 Celebrating FAB34

With more than 30 years providing specialist engineering, construction, polymer & consultancy services, Co Roscommon firm, ROSS, is proud to have played a part in the creation of what is known as FAB34.

172 Sustainable Waste Recovery

Bioregen - leader in the recycling and recovering of wastes and by-products in Ireland for positive uses.

176 Making Farming Climate Friendly

Irish farmers facing the significant challenge of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to meet Climate Action Plan targets 176

179 Corporate Sustainability

Matheson’s Garret Farrelly explains the new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CS3D”) 179

139 Lifting higher

180 Lennon Solar Powering Commercial Renewable Energy

140 LotusWorks – Supporting growth

184 A bright future

142 Workplace Safety

187 Solar Revolution

145 Snickers Workwear

188 Creating a brighter future

146 Evolution of Irish Rail

190 Empowering the future with Greenway Solar

Gabriel O’Brien Crane Hire Ltd is one of Ireland’s longest established crane hire companies LotusWorks - capitalising on the explosion of growth across the industry The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) 2023 Annual Report Snickers Workwear has been at the forefront of pioneering workwear for nearly 50 years.

Irish Rail is on the cusp of massive transformation

150 GPX Rail

GPX Rail has continued to strive for success and innovation in the rail industry since its foundation in 2008.

152 Daktronics: The Sign Of The Times Daktronics Ireland - market-leading display solutions for transportation.

157 Lifting Efficiency

WH Scott & Son Engineers working with Irish Rail to ensure the safety and efficiency of Ireland’s railways.

158 Green Building Council

Championing sustainable transformation in Ireland

161 Home Building Finance Ireland

Supporting the delivery of new social and affordable homes around Ireland

162 Positioning Wood as the Sustainable Building Material of the Future

Coillte’s forestry strategic vision aims to balance and deliver the multiple benefits of its forests for climate, nature, wood, and people.

167 Nolan Coaches

Nolan Coaches provides a full range of coach and bus services in Dublin, Leinster and Ireland

168 Bright Future for Biomass

Examining potential, progress and strategy in Ireland’s bioenergy sector.

170 ‘Climate Conversation 2023’

The “Climate Conversation 2023” report is a comprehensive analysis compiled by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Lennon SPolar at the forefront of helping organisations in Ireland transition to renewable energy.

Solar power sets a shining example in the race to meet 2030 decarbonisation target

Western Solar has rapidly become a prominent player in the solar industry.

ASEI is an Irish renewable energy company focused on providing highquality solar PV

Greenway Solar is committed to providing innovative tools and products that harness the power of the sun 190

193 Empowering Ireland with Solar Energy

Klass Solar, part of Klass Home Energy, is at the forefront of Ireland’s renewable energy revolution.

194 The Renewable Energy Transition The growth of renewable energy: Progress, challenges and potential

199 WRB Group

WRB Group is an Irish Solar Expert offering high-quality solar panels with a 30-year warranty

201 Harnessing the power of the Sun

Truway Renewables is one of Ireland’s leading Solar PV Installers..

203 Renewable Energy Specialists

Alternative Energy brings 12 years of experience in the domestic, commercial and agricultural sectors.

204 Resolute Engineering Group

Leading the Charge in Renewable Energy Solutions

208 Accelerating Electric Vehicle Sales

A recent slump in demand for electric vehicle (EV sales) is threatening our ability to meet the target of electrifying one-third of cars by 203

Public Sector Magazine

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www.munsterjoinery.ie WINDOWS & DOORS the Public Sector Magazine

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Public Sector News

In the News The latest news from Ireland’s housing and construction sectors

HOUSE PRICES SURGE House prices homes throughout the country rose at the fastest rate in almost two years in the 12 months to the end of June, according to new data shows.

According to the MyHome.ie Property Price Report, advertised prices nationally were up 7.3% with the median asking price reaching €365,000.

The last time the annual inflation rate in prices sought for homes was this high was in the third quarter of 2022, when it reached 7.8%.

In Dublin, the annual rate of asking price inflation was 7.2%, while outside the capital, it was 7.6%. Compared to the previous quarter, prices were up 5.1% on a national basis.

“The clear message from the Q2 2024 MyHome.ie Property Price Report is that house prices have gained further momentum,” Conall MacCoille, chief economist at Bank of Ireland and author of the report,” said.

“Asking prices rose by 5% in Q2 2024, up 7.3% on the year, the highest

figure since Q3 2022. This represents an acceleration in the pace of annual asking price inflation from 6.5% in Q1 2024.”

“Furthermore, the pick-up in the pace of asking price inflation has been broad based across Dublin (7.2%) and the rest

of Ireland (7.6%).”

Mr MacCoille highlighted the 4.7% rise in average earnings in the year to the first quarter, which he said has helped drive mortgage approval values up 4.6% to an average of €313,000.

CORPORATION TAX BOOSTS PUBLIC PURSE Corporation tax receipts have helped to boost the State’s overall tax take during the first half of this year, increasing by 15.4% when compared to the first six months of 2023.

The latest exchequer report shows that, along with corporation tax receipts, income tax and VAT have also helped to boost the State’s take so far this year, with a total of €44.7bn received from taxpayers during the first six months`. That translates to an increase of more than 9% when compared to the same period last year.

Corporation tax receipts in the first half of this year are 11% ahead of projections. The majority of the returns from corporation tax, approximately €5.9bn of the total €12.2bn collected so

far this year, took place in June.

Peter Vale, Tax Partner at Grant Thornton Ireland said that this boost was largely driven by 2024 profit estimates for many companies being published during last month.

“Thus crucially, positive June returns would suggest further positive returns to come in the key month of November, assuming that profit estimates hold up,” Vale said.

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers had a much more cautious view of the concentrated returns in June however, suggesting that it points to potential for volatility in the figures in the coming months.

A total of €11bn was collected through VAT during the first six months

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers

of this year – representing a 6.2% increase on the same period last year.

Receipts in June, a non-VAT-due month, were relatively minor at €0.1bn.

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‘YOUR COUNCIL DAY’ The public are being encouraged to engage with Your Council Day 2024 where all 31 local authorities join together to highlight the important work carried out by their employees up and down the country.

Co-ordinated by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), Your Council Day seeks to raise public awareness of the important role that local authorities play in contributing to the physical, cultural, social, and environmental development of their communities.

Local authorities provide over a thousand services to the public, including the maintenance of footpaths, parks, and leisure centres, supports for the arts and businesses, climate action, and tourism development.

Social media users are being encouraged to find out more about the services provided by

their local authorities by using the #YourCouncilDay and #DoLásaChomhairle hashtags and are asked to get involved by posting their own experiences of council initiatives.

“All across Ireland, every day, our local county councils have an impact on our quality of life. They provide homes, improve our neighbourhoods, protect the environment, and strive to make our communities better places to live,” Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Alan “My Department recently launched the ‘Your Council’ campaign to highlight these essential services and raise awareness of how local government works. ‘Your Council Day’ provides an opportunity to emphasise this important message and celebrate the positive work of local authorities.

“So, to mark Your Council Day for 2024, I would like to thank all of the

BOOSTING DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOMES Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has approved 71 new specialist and administrative posts to help ramp up the delivery of affordable housing throughout the country.

The Minister’s approval of these additional professional expert roles alongside administrative delivery teams increases the total complement to just over 140 staff in local authorities dedicated to delivering affordable housing. The new staff will ensure that our local authorities have increased levels of necessary in-house expertise in areas such as design, procurement, surveying, engineering and administration.

“Last year, we delivered over 4,000 affordable homes, a 128% increase on 2022. I am determined to deliver much more to ensure affordable purchase and cost rental homes are built at scale in the period 2022-2030,” Minister O’Brien said; “To achieve this, local authorities need staff with the right skillsets across a range of disciplines. These new posts will be solely dedicated to affordable housing delivery and will bring the required technical and specialist expertise to ensure the current robust pipeline of affordable homes is further increased.”

“My Department has been working with the Housing Delivery Coordination Office (HDCO) and the County and City Management Association (CCMA) to identify the additional staffing resources required to deliver more affordable homes and today’s sanctioning of additional resources is informed by their views. With these new positions, local authorities now possess increased capacity to meet our ambitious targets for affordable housing delivery.”

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Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon staff in our councils for their dedication and contribution to local communities throughout the country.”

You can learn more about what your local council does for your community on the ‘Your Council’ campaign homepage: www.gov.ie/YourCouncil

COSTING A UNITED IRELAND A United Ireland would cost €20bn every year for 20 years according to a new research paper by the Institute of International and European Affairs think-tank. The consequences of reunification would require large increases in taxation across the island with unification, substantial cuts to public expenditure, increases in social welfare spending and a significant financial burden placed on the six counties.

According to the researchers, Northern Ireland can offset the financial impacts by increasing productivity in its own economy. However, the experts believe it will take two decades for productivity in both economies to begin aligning, and a considerable amount of time before Northern Ireland see the benefits of being in the European single-market.

The researchers suggest that there would be a “dramatic increase” in taxation of around 25% across the island, with the bulk of contributions coming from the Republic’s 26 counties.

The figures, which are based on those from 2019, also show that matching social welfare payments post-unification would cost the State 10% of the modified Gross National Income, as Northern Ireland would only add 5%.

Co-chair of the Institute, John FitzGerald, said: “Even though Ireland has a much higher national income, funding the needs of the people of Northern Ireland in a united Ireland would put huge financial pressure on the people of Ireland, resulting in an immediate major reduction in their living standards.”

Public Sector News

ANNUAL CLASSIC CAR & MOTORCYCLE SHOW On Saturday, July 6th over 200 classic cars and motorbikes rolled into the WWETB Waterford Training Centre at the IDA Industrial Estate on the Cork Road, Waterford for the fifth annual Classic Car and Bike Show hosted by the on-site instructors of the Classic Car Restoration Course.

The showcase was hosted to celebrate and demonstrate the works completed by the course participants who have taken part in either the Classic Car Restoration Day or evening courses. Visitors enjoyed the event in their droves with over 1000 people attending the Saturday morning fun as they enjoyed the showcase of vintage and classic vehicles and got a peek into the classic car restoration workshops at the centre.

Visitors enjoyed tours of the hugely impressive workshops and even tried their hand at some skills required in each course using virtual reality gaming technology. They also had the opportunity to meet with course instructors and former course participants to learn more about the course, the modules and the technologies used.

The Classic Car Restoration Course was launched in 2016 at the Waterford Training Centre part of the Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board

US TRADE MISSION (WWETB) and it is the only course of its kind in the entire country. To date over 300 people have taken part and gained qualifications in the Classic Car Restoration Course Course Instructor Pat Bolger has over 40 years of experience in the motor trade and in restoring classic cars. Commenting on the show Pat said, “We are very proud to see this show grow and grow each year, the number of quality cars and bikes on show here is a testament to the level of interest in classic motoring and the skills required to maintain these now rare motors. We are very proud to see some fine examples on show by past and present the classic car restoration course participants too.”

The winner of Best Car was Noel Shanaghy from Faithlegg for his Renault 4 CWT pickup. The winner of the Best Bike was Larry Power from Clarina, Limerick for his 1940’s Indian Chief US Military bike.

EXPORTS BOUNCE New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that exports of goods increased by 10% to almost €91bn in the first five months of this year, while imports decreased by 10% during the same time.

The CSO said that chemicals and related products showed the largest changes in both cases. Exports of these goods grew by €5.5bn from January to May of this year compared with the same time in 2023, and imports of Chemicals & Related Products fell by €4.4bn in the same time frame.

The figures show that exports to Great Britain amounted to €1.288bn in May, which was 7% of total exports for the month. Meanwhile, imports from Great Britain in May came to €1.478bn, or 14% of the total value of imports.

The EU accounted for €7.068 billion or 39% of total goods exports in May, of which €2.133bn went to the Netherlands, €1.707bn went to Germany and €935m went to Belgium.

The US was the main non-EU destination accounting for €5.622bn, or 31%, of total exports in May.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke is leading a joint Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland Trade and Investment Mission to New York and Boston to boost trade relationships and promote Irish companies in the US. Irish exports to North America reached a record high of €6.48 billion in 2023, while a record number of 210,000 people are employed by US multinational companies in Ireland.

North America now accounts for 19% of all exports by Enterprise Ireland backed companies and several Enterprise Ireland companies are set to announce new market presences and expansion plans in the US during the visit, including Version 1, Novum, Tines, Uniphar, Intact Software, Apple Green and Waterwipes.

80 new market presences have been established by Enterprise Ireland clients in the US in the last year and a half and there are currently over 900 Irish owned companies exporting to the US. Most recent figures available show that US companies spent about €16 billion on payroll in Ireland in 2022, €10.8bn on goods & services and invested €14.2bn of Capital Expenditure.

Peter Burke said that trade missions to key cities on the East Coast, such as New York and Boston, play a pivotal role in promoting thriving entrepreneurship between the US and Ireland.

“Irish companies already make a significant impact to the US economy, with exports to North America exceeding €6 billion in 2023. I look forward to promoting Ireland as both a source of worldclass products and services and as a world-leading destination for FDI on my visit,” he added.

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IRISH GIRL GUIDES SELECTED AS AN SDG CHAMPION

Michael Lohan, the Chief Executive Officer of IDA Ireland

IDA DELIVERS Ireland’s proposition for FDI investment remains strong according to IDA Ireland which recently publishes mid-year results for 2024 alongside its latest Annual Report.

The first six months of this year saw IDA Ireland support 131 investments, 74 of which are planned for regional locations, enabling the future delivery of 8,900 jobs to the economy against an increasingly challenging global operating environment.

New investments secured by the inward investment agency since January include Pentagon Technologies whose state-of-theart facility in Dundalk will create 100 jobs; automotive fleet manager, Element Fleet Management that is to set up a global leasing centre in Dublin creating 70 jobs; Evernorth Health Services which is to locate a new innovation hub in Galway that will create 100 jobs; and Motorola Solutions, which recently announced that its new global R&D Centre will be located in Cork.

In addition to companies newly investing in Ireland this year, IDA Ireland has also announced a number of significant, transformative investments of scale from existing clients, such as IBM Ireland’s announcement in May that it would create 800 high-value roles across its sites in Dublin, Cork and at its subsidiary Red Hat in Waterford; and Bristol Myers Squibb’s $400m investment which will create 350 jobs, bringing the total number employed at its campus in Dublin to over 1,000 people.

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The Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications has selected Irish Girl Guides (IGG) as one of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champions for the 2024-25 Programme.

As a youth-driven organization with our members at the heart of all decision-making, IGG has shown increasing interest in the SDGs and Global Citizenship Education (GCE) over the years. Its members are demonstrable changemakers both within and outside the organization, eager to actively participate in creating a healthier planet and society.

Irish Girl Guides actively promotes the SDGs among its members, who range from 5 to 30 years old. As a girls and young women centered organization since its founding in 1911, the ethos and work of IGG have contributed towards the advancement and highlighting of various SDGs, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

IGG’s Mission is “to enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.” Its Vision is “a future which is sustainable, diverse, and equal where girls and young women are empowered to advocate and lead the way.” In this sense, IGG is committed to raising

awareness of the importance of the SDGs as a founding principle for a fair and sustainable future for all.

Shauna Harris, Irish Girl Guides Global Citizenship Education Programme Officer, said that Being selected is a recognition of the daily work we do with our members and aligns with IGG’s core values and mission.

“This engagement in the SDG Champion Programme will support us in further advancing our work in promoting SDGs and GCE among our members, and to show through our actions that everyone in society can make critical changes for a better world,” she said.

FAIRER FOSSIL FUEL PHASE-OUT Friends of the Earth Ireland has welcomed the publication of detailed analysis by the state’s climate watchdog, the Climate Change Advisory Council, on climate action in Irish homes and buildings. This comprehensive review provides a detailed assessment and recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment sector.

The Council’s report supports Friends of the Earth research and recommendations and notes the urgent need for the Government to reduce and phase out Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels and to replace heating systems with alternatives such as heat pumps and district heating.

“It’s welcome and significant that the Climate Change Advisory Council’s review endorses, and echoes research and recommendations developed by Friends of the Earth to decarbonise our

buildings, such as increasing targets and funding for retrofitting of social housing; providing more support for households to install renewable heating systems; and a more targeted, area-based approach to retrofitting,” Clare O’Connor, Energy Policy Officer at Friends of the Earth said: “The Government must now heed the advice of the Council and civil society and implement the recommendations made in order to guarantee a faster and fairer transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings.”

Public Sector News

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LMETB: Creating Pathways for FET Learners Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) stands tall as the largest education and training provider in the Northeast region. As one of the largest ETBs in the country, it employs over 2,500 staff and provides education for over 13,000 students at primary and post-primary level, and approximately 15,000 learners in Further Education and Training (FET).

LMETB Skills to Advance initiative

LMETB’s FET provision offers a diverse range of full-time and part-time education and training possibilities, both accredited and non-accredited, for all individuals over the age of 16, across a variety of centres, colleges and outreach locations across Louth and Meath.

Its regional centres include the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE), and Regional Skills Training Centre (RSTC) in Dundalk, as well as Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) provision in Drogheda, Dunboyne and Dundalk. LMETB’s FET centres, located in Drogheda, Dundalk, Kells, Navan, Athboy and Trim, also offer Information and Guidance Services and a range of courses and programmes.

Specific opportunities, including Adult and Community Education and Youth Education, Training and Services are also delivered in community facilities in partnership with the local community. Across all its provisions, LMETB’s FET courses offer

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the learner the blend of skills and competencies necessary to achieve personal, educational and professional goals.

Supports to Industry LMETB prides itself particularly on providing education and training options that provide pathways for its learners, with a provision which allows learners to upskill or reskill for career opportunities, or to progress within Further or Higher Education.

The ETB is ideally positioned, in a strategically important economic area, to be the education and training provider of choice both for employers seeking to upskill their employees and for the Louth and Meath population, in general, to upskill, reskill and participate in lifelong learning.

The delivery of FET programmes to support the economy

Public Sector Magazine

“Working in partnership with the various networks and employers around the region enables us to develop training that allows enterprises to compete at a higher level because staff are operating with an enhanced skillset.”

Professional Cookery QQI Level 5 in action at Dunboyne College of Further Education locally in Louth and Meath is supported through the national SOLAS- funded Skills to Advance Initiative. LMETB’s Employment Engagement Officers work with local industry to help identify training needs and then develop and deliver targeted interventions to upskill and reskill the workforce. LMETB works in partnership with a range of bodies including, Regional Skills Fora (Mid-East and North-East), Chambers of Commerce, Local Enterprise Offices and Local Authority Economic Development Units, as well as with key business networks in both counties, to custom build its training programmes.

LMETB’s Employer Engagement Officer notes how this collaborative approach is essential: “Working in partnership with the various networks and employers around the region enables us to develop training that allows enterprises to compete at a higher level because staff are operating with an enhanced skillset.

It can also be a very cost-effective solution for many employers as this training is fully funded by the ETB or is provided at a highly subsidised rate, while employees can also apply directly for funding to upskill under our evening course provision.

Support under the Skills to Advance initiative is available to sole traders, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), or multinationals who need some assistance to invest in and develop their workforce. Certified training can be delivered directly to individual employees or bespoke training programmes can be provided to individual companies or groups of companies. Training can be provided in soft skills development such as customer service and technical, practical and ICT skills. Many courses are 100% or 70% funded and offered at flexible times and locations, whether that be in the workplace, online or in an LMETB FET Centre.

In 2022, Employer Engagement Services in LMETB supported almost 1213 employees in over 92 companies to avail of training courses. These employees came from a wide range of sectors including Agriculture, Healthcare and Childcare,

Construction, Education, Leisure and Services, ICT and Telecoms, Manufacturing and Engineering.

An example of one local company which has benefitted from LMETB’s Skills to Advance provision is Kilsaran Concrete.

The company’s Head of Strategic HR outlined that: “Through Skills to Advance, and in partnership with Dunboyne College of Further Education, we recently had the opportunity to participate in both the L6 Managing People and L5 Customer Service training programmes. Both programmes were well-designed and comprehensive. Our team members who completed both programmes were impressed by the depth of knowledge and expertise demonstrated by the instructors, who are not only highly qualified but also showed a genuine eagerness for our team to develop their managing people and customer care skills.”

The company’s representative praised the LMETB team for how “they went above and beyond by taking the time to meet with us on-site, on more than one occasion and, also offered the opportunity for work shadowing, which proved to be an invaluable experience. They took the time to understand our company’s challenges, industry dynamics, and culture.

They carefully crafted the training modules to align with our requirements, ensuring that the knowledge and skills acquired were directly applicable to our daily operations.”

A new and upcoming Skills to Advance initiative which LMETB is proud to take the lead on, is the launch of a suite of Cybersecurity programmes by LMETB’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence. These programmes will help industries in all sectors to identify cyber risks and understand how they can impact an organisation’s physical assets, software and data. Through consultation with industry experts in the development of these programmes, LMETB can ensure the latest knowledge and expertise as part of their learner provision.

Apprenticeships and Traineeships Asides from the range of part-time services available under Skills to Advance, LMETB’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship Provision continues to support full-time trainees seeking to upskill and support employers seeking to develop their workforce.

LMETB Apprenticeship Services’ Team continue to engage

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Launch of DIFE’s Data Centre Technician programme in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2022

Launch of White Goods Field Service Engineer Traineeship in collaboration with WEEE Ireland, Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT), and the White Goods Association in 2022 employers across many industries, supporting local and regional employers and apprentices on a day-to-day basis. In 2022, the team engaged with over 850 employers.

In March 2023, the annual ‘Apprenticeship Expo’ was held in County Meath. This expo is an information and networking event, led jointly by Meath Chambers and LMETB’s Apprenticeship Services Team. Over 90 exhibitors and nearly 4,000 attendees registered for the day.

A recent highlight for LMETB’s Apprenticeship Services has been the creation of LMETB’s newest FET centre in Drogheda, focused specifically on Apprenticeship at this time. It will provide much-needed additional training places to meet the current apprenticeship waiting lists. It is anticipated that the centre will cater for approximately 150 apprentices annually and will also

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establish up to 20 new permanent jobs in Drogheda.

The continued success of LMETB’s traditional Apprenticeship provision, as well as its participation in the rollout of new offerings, means it is a promising time for the sector. LMETB offers the recently-developed National Hairdressing Apprenticeship and is currently developing a Robotics and Automation Apprenticeship In addition, LMETB’s Traineeship provision, which also offers the “Earn as you learn” model used in Apprenticeships, continues to respond to the needs of industry and participants alike.

LMETB’s White Goods Field Service Engineer Traineeship, offered in collaboration with WEEE Ireland, Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT), and the White Goods Association, is an innovative skills training programme focused

Public Sector Magazine

Launch of Meath Chamber’s Apprenticeship Expo 2023 on the Circular Economy and the repairing and subsequent reuse of white goods appliances. Offered in Dunshaughlin, its learners achieve nationally recognised certification at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Furthermore, a collaboration between the Regional Skills and Training Centre (RSTC) and the AMTCE, supported by Intel, has created Advanced Manufacturing Traineeships in Pneumatics and in Electronics in Navan. An innovative response to encouraging female participation, one of the two traineeships had a female-only focus and has been a very successful pilot programme. Launched in October 2022, 27 learners were registered across the two programmes.

Post – Leaving Certificate Programmes LMETB’s Post-Leaving Certificate programmes are available to school leavers and adult learners across 3 locations: O Fiaich Institute of Further Education (OFI Dundalk), Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE) and Dunboyne College of Further Education (DCFE).

Similar to LMETB’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship Provision, its Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) provision continues to provide graduates with a range of industry-relevant skills, in courses which can offer a direct link to future careers. Graduates from courses such as Healthcare, Business, Beauty Therapy and Professional Cookery, for example, are in high demand from local employees. DIFE’s successful “Amazon Web Services Data Technician course”, is an example of a collaborative part-time programme which responds to the needs of industry and can provide a direct route to employment.

Furthermore, an added benefit of LMETB’s PLC provision is its importance in providing pathways for learners into Higher Education. All three of LMETB’s PLC colleges offer “Pre-university” courses at Levels 5 and 6, which offer excellent

progression links into Higher Education Institutions in Ireland and the UK. Dunboyne College of Further Education (DCFE) recently reported that over 90% of eligible students who applied via the CAO in 2022 received an offer based on their QQI results.

LMETB’s collaborative links with Higher Education are cemented by the many networks and initiatives in which it is involved, which include North-Eastern Further and Higher Education Alliance (NEFHEA), a regional initiative in the North-East comprising Higher and Further Education institutions in the region.

LMETB is also aligned with the Further Education & Higher Education Network (FE-HE Network), which is an output from a previous collaboration under the HEA-funded MEND pathways project. It is a formal grouping between Dublin City University, TUS Athlone, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Maynooth University and 8 ETBS. Furthermore, LMETB’s involvement in DCU’s Connections Initiative, a newly established project which aims to ease the pathway of progression from FET providers in the DCU hinterland into the university. It aims to simplify entry routes, develop advanced entry options into certain programmes and establish a FET route into DCU’s primary education teaching programme.

Such innovative collaborations have been instrumental in ensuring the development of programmes such as DCFE’s “Turn to Teaching” pilot course in partnership with Maynooth University, and OFI’s upcoming Business & Computing QQI Level 6 course which offers progression to Year 3 of BA (Hons) Business & Management degree in DKIT. For more information: Across all of its provisions, LMETB aims to provide relevant pathways for learners, whatever their personal learning goals might be. For more information on any of LMETB’s FET courses and programmes, please visit www.lmetb.ie/fet or follow us on social media @ lmetbfet. Information is also available by email at adultguidance@lmetb.ie or by phone at 1800 991898.

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Reinvigorating Ireland’s Equity Capital Markets A vibrant domestic equity market is an integral element of Ireland’s funding infrastructure and it contributes significantly to Ireland’s economic development, employment growth, and to the Exchequer.

Euronext’s IPOready Class of 2023

However, as the final step on the funding escalator, equity public markets are under-utilised as a funding mechanism for scaling companies in Ireland. Over the last decade, many such companies have availed of alternative funding options, or bypassed public equity funding in favour of trade sales to international investors. While this typically represents a significant loss for the Irish economy it is also a missed opportunity that impacts the vibrancy of its equity markets ecosystem, which has been contracting in recent years.

To address this, a strategic policy shift is urgently required that encourages and facilitates the use of public equity markets in order to deliver permanent capital, to support the funding and growth of scaling companies in Ireland. Introducing a Retail Savings and Investment Scheme designed to facilitate retail investment in companies and SMEs, and increasing the general tax-free CGT allowance is a start. However, providing an adequate eco-system for companies to flourish will require fiscal incentives to founders, to enhance the attractiveness of fundraising via public markets, and enabling companies in Ireland to address their capital void through the establishment of an Irish Growth Capital Fund that delivers domestic equity capital to fuel growth using the Irish equity market infrastructure.

In taking these crucial steps, we will retain the value created by these enterprises within the Irish economy, fostering a more

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robust and self-sustaining financial environment. This approach would not only bolster national and regional economies but it would also enhance the dynamism and global competitiveness of Ireland’s equity markets.

Given the importance of SMEs to Ireland’s strategic economic development and the potential for them to be future global champions, it is crucial for Ireland to nurture these enterprises, ensuring they are rooted in their indigenous country. Access to public equity markets and equity funding as a permanent source of capital supports this in a meaningful way.

Failing to address the status quo will have a profound economic impact on scaling Irish enterprises with many of them likely to pivot to other international destinations with a vibrant domestic equity public market thereby reducing their connection to Ireland and potentially costing jobs and regional growth.

That said, many EU countries face equity market challenges, but they employ a combination of supportive fiscal, policy, regulatory, and institutional measures to promote long-term economic growth and prosperity, thereby making their markets more attractive for companies and investors. For that reason, changing the policy eco-system here is critical for delivering better long-term funding outcomes for companies, so that they can scale globally, tap equity investors quickly and regularly to fuel their expansion, and continue to contribute to our economic

Public Sector Magazine

Aquila European Renewables, listing on Euronext Dublin in October 2023

Given the importance of SMEs to Ireland’s strategic economic development and the potential for them to be future global champions, it is crucial for Ireland to nurture these enterprises, ensuring they are rooted in their indigenous country. development and employment across the economy and provide an environment that regions into the future. facilitates growth and impact..

The fact that so many EU countries, Under the recently established are undertaking locally-led initiatives Irish Equity Market Forum (IEMF), aimed at buoying up private equity twenty participating firms provided markets , to make them more attractive detailed proposals, and the legislative for companies and investors, indicates amendments necessary to deliver them, that a multi-faceted solution is required, with Government for consideration as part encompassing EU-wide initiatives, such as of Budget 2025. the EU’s Capital Markets Union policies, As a country, we are in an enviable with targeted domestic actions. position with many high potential and The UK, France, Italy and many scaling companies that would benefit other EU countries, are already leading from funding their growth through public on this approach but Ireland is at a very equity markets. The key challenge now real risk of being left behind, which will is to create an attractive enterprise-led have profound implications. Therefore, environment that incentivises companies exploring a suite of domestic policy and their founders to fund their and budgetary measures will help to growth though public equity markets. create a more attractive and accessible Niall Jones, Euronext, Head of Listing, Ireland Implementing the proposals put forward and UK equity capital market here for companies by the IEMF is a start as it will help to and investors. With Ireland facing key ensure that Irish equity capital markets challenges with foreign direct investment as a consequence continue to support the fundraising needs of scaling Irish of changes wrought by the global minimum tax rate, and our companies, ensure the robustness of our economy and be a key general competitiveness, we need to protect our enterprise component of the engine of economic growth, into the future.

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Ireland’s Enduring Support for Palestine Ireland has a long-standing tradition of supporting Palestine, often standing out among Western nations for its outspoken criticism of Israel and robust advocacy for Palestinian rights. This support is multifaceted and reflects a deep-rooted empathy and solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Ireland’s support for Palestine dates back decades, grounded in a shared history of colonisation and a commitment to international justice. In 1980, Ireland became the first EU country to advocate for the establishment of a Palestinian state. This pioneering stance was further solidified in 1993 when Ireland was the last EU member to open an Israeli embassy in Dublin.

In 2018, independent politician Frances Black introduced the Occupied Territories Bill, which sought to ban trade with Israeli settlements in occupied territories. Although the bill did not pass due to coalition negotiations, it highlighted widespread political and public support for Palestine within Ireland.

In 2021, Ireland became the first EU nation to formally acknowledge that Israel’s actions amounted to a “de-facto annexation” of Palestinian land. This declaration drew criticism from Israel but underscored Ireland’s commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights on the international stage.

More recently, President Michael D Higgins, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was “not speaking for Ireland” when she expressed unconditional support for Israel on October 16 without acknowledging the ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands.

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Public Sentiment Recent polling conducted by Ireland Thinks on behalf of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine (IAACP) reveals strong public support for Palestinian rights among the Irish populace. According to the poll, 71% of Irish people believe that Palestinians live under an apartheid system imposed by Israel.

Support for this view spans across political affiliations, with particularly high agreement among supporters of the Green Party (85%), Fianna Fáil (71%), and Fine Gael (56%).

Additionally, 61% of respondents believe that Ireland should restrict trade with Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law. Furthermore, 62% think that the EU should impose sanctions on Israel akin to those placed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. These findings reflect a broad consensus among the Irish public in favor of taking concrete actions to support Palestinian rights and pressure Israel to comply with international norms.

Ireland has consistently provided significant humanitarian aid to Palestine, focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable communities, including refugees in neighboring countries.

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In October 2023, Ireland announced an additional €13 million ($14 million) in humanitarian funding for Palestinians, bringing the total for the year to €29 million ($31.5 million). This aid aims to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support critical infrastructure projects, such as the development of a solar energy plant to power the North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment Plant.

Ireland’s humanitarian efforts in Palestine encompass several key areas including education, human rights and governance and gender equality. Ireland supports the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Education to improve the quality of the education system and ensure more Palestinian children have access to schooling. The Ireland–Palestine Scholarship Programme provides scholarships for Palestinian students to pursue master’s degrees in Ireland.

In addition, Ireland focuses on strengthening governance and addressing human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and supports initiatives to promote gender equality and protect women at risk of violence, acknowledging the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women and girls.

Jerusalem as its capital. This move aims to increase diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority and boost Palestine’s international standing. Ireland will now upgrade the Palestinian mission in Dublin to an embassy, with a corresponding upgrade for Ireland’s representative office in Ramallah - following the example set by Oslo and Madrid.

The hope is that such recognition will pressure Israel to engage in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

Historically, 143 of the 193 UN member states have recognised Palestine, but the recent recognitions from economically and diplomatically powerful Western European states signal a growing traction for Palestine’s bid for statehood. This recognition aligns with the commitments Taoiseach Simon Harris, emphasised Ireland’s made in the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, commitment to justice and peace and the wherein Israel agreed to pursue a twoTaoiseach drew parallels between Ireland’s state solution. own struggle for independence and the Palestinian quest for statehood.

Following the announcement, Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a phone call to discuss the implications of the move. President Abbas thanked Harris for Ireland’s courageous stance, which he believes will enhance peace and justice and support the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. Abbas expressed Recognition of the hope that the recognition by Ireland, Palestinian State Spain, and Norway would inspire other European states to follow suit and support On May 22, 2024, Ireland, alongside Palestine’s bid for full UN membership.

Norway and Spain, announced their During the call, both leaders decision to officially recognise the State of condemned the recent Hamas-led Palestine. This historic decision, articulated attack on Israel and expressed a desire

by Taoiseach Simon Harris, emphasised for a lasting ceasefire and an end to Ireland’s commitment to justice and peace the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Abbas and the Taoiseach drew parallels between reaffirmed the need to halt the ongoing Ireland’s own struggle for independence Israeli military actions in Gaza and the and the Palestinian quest for statehood, West Bank and to expedite the delivery of highlighting the symbolic and political humanitarian aid to the blockaded areas. importance of recognition.

It has also been revealed that plans “Recognition is an act of powerful are underway for President Mahmoud – Taoiseach Simon Harris political and symbolic value. It is an Abbas to visit Ireland, where he is expression of our view that Palestine holds expected to deliver a historic address and should be able to vindicate the full rights of a state.” Harris to the Oireachtas. Ceann Comhairle Séan Ó Fearghaíl has stated, initiated contact with the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland to Harris said that Ireland’s recognition of the Palestinian state facilitate this visit. The address by Abbas to the Dáil is intended aligns with Ireland’s long-standing support for a two-state to further solidify the diplomatic ties between Ireland and solution and reflects a commitment to international law and the Palestine and to underscore Ireland’s support for Palestinian principles of self-determination. statehood.

The recognition of Palestine by Ireland, Spain, and Norway Ó Fearghaíl has also emphasised the need to distinguish marks a significant diplomatic shift, although it primarily between opposition to the Israeli government’s policies and serves a symbolic purpose rather than recognising an existing anti-Semitism, highlighting the valuable contributions of the state. All three countries have announced that they will Jewish community in Ireland. He expressed concern over the recognise Palestine according to the pre-1967 borders with East potential radicalisation of Palestinian children as a result of the

“Recognition is an act of powerful political and

symbolic value. It is an expression

of our view that Palestine holds

and should be able to vindicate the full rights of a state.”

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Ambassador Abdalmajid praised Ireland’s leadership and she urged the international community to acknowledge Palestine’s right to self-determination to prevent the region from remaining in perpetual conflict. ongoing conflict and stressed the importance of achieving peace to prevent further suffering and extremism.

Palestinian Ambassador Visits Government Buildings In a further landmark diplomatic event, Palestinian Ambassador Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid was also formally received at the Government Buildings in Dublin by Taoiseach Simon Harris on Thursday, marking the first time a Palestinian ambassador has been officially welcomed in the Taoiseach’s office.

Dr. Abdalmajid expressed gratitude to Taoiseach Harris and the Irish people for their recognition, describing it as a beacon of hope and a pivotal moment for Palestinian self-determination.

She articulated that this recognition, alongside similar moves by Spain and Norway, elevates Palestine’s status on the global stage, fostering a new level of international perception and support.

The Ambassador briefed the Taoiseach on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasised the urgent need for increased food and aid. The discussion also covered ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages, following a proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Dr. Abdalmajid also reflected on the emotional impact of the recognition, noting it as both symbolic and a concrete acknowledgment of the rights of Palestinians. She highlighted the importance of international recognition in giving hope to Palestinians and affirming their right to live in peace and security in a sovereign state. The Ambassador said that the recognition sends a powerful message to the Palestinian people that they are not alone and that the international community supports their quest for peace and self-determination.

Dr. Abdalmajid stressed the critical need for international action to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the West Bank and asserted that the recognition of Palestinian rights is essential for lasting peace and stability in the region. She also expressed confidence that Palestinians would respect international law, provided their rights were recognised and respected.

The Ambassador praised Ireland’s leadership in advocating for Palestinian statehood at the UN and within the EU. She described Ireland’s recognition as a courageous step that sets a precedent for other nations, and she urged the international community to acknowledge Palestine’s right to self-determination to prevent the region from remaining in perpetual conflict.

Voicing her hopes for a future where Palestinian and Israeli children alike can live in peace and security, the Ambassador called on the international community to continue supporting the Palestinian people’s aspirations for freedom and statehood, highlighting Ireland’s role in this global effort.

Dr Abdalmajid said that her reaction to the announcement was “positive and emotional” and described it as a “a very special day”.

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“I know that with all that’s going on with Palestine and against the Palestinian people, we felt it’s a light out of this dark tunnel. It gives hope. I’m really proud of being a representative of the Palestinian people here in Ireland.”

“It’s not easy to feel this happiness while thousands of people are killed on a daily basis and Israel is becoming even more vicious.”

“I think it’s the time it’s not just symbolic, it’s a recognition of our rights, of 13 million people of Palestinian people to self-determination, and to live in peace and security in a sovereign state. That acknowledgment of recognition is highly welcomed by the Palestinian leadership. And, of course by all the Palestinians,” “What’s going on in Gaza at the minute and in the West Bank needs the international community to take action. This action, the recognition of the rights of the Palestinians, people that give hope to the Palestinians, that they are seen, they are heard. They are not alone. And the international community believes in their rights, to live in peace and security in their sovereign state.”

“Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis deserved to live in war forever. We deserve, to live in peace and security. And the Israeli children, the Palestinian children deserve to live in peace and security for their life. We deserve this. And the international community must help us to achieve this.”

“I am looking forward to seeing the flag flying on Leinster House. It’s a big moment.” She said, adding that Leinster House is representative of the people of Ireland.

“Thank you for being on the right side of history, thank you for seeing us, not leaving us alone. Thank you Irish people for protesting for justice and the human rights of Palestinians.

However, the decision by Ireland, alongside Spain and Norway, to recognise Palestine has been met with strong condemnation from the Israeli government, which immediately withdrew its ambassadors. Foreign Minister Israel Katz also summoned the ambassadors of these three countries, showing them footage from the October 7 Hamas-led incursion into Israel, which resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the taking of about 250 hostages.

In a formal statement, Israel expressed disappointment with Ireland’s decision, stating that it undermines Israel’s sovereignty and security. The statement emphasised that unilateral gestures such as recognizing Palestine would not help resolve the conflict and questioned the practical implications of the recognition.

Ireland’s recognition of Palestine is seen as the beginning of a broader diplomatic process rather than its conclusion.

While it has strained relations with Israel, it reinforces Ireland’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict and enhancing Palestine’s international standing. The planned visit by President Abbas to Ireland and his address to the Oireachtas will further highlight Ireland’s support and advocacy for Palestinian rights.

Public Sector Magazine

ETHIOPIA AID The Tanaiste Micheál Martin recently concluded a four-day visit to the Horn of Africa with a series of engagements in Addis Ababa.

The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence has met the Ethiopian Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide and outlined details of €15 million in funding from Ireland to support development and humanitarian programming to benefit those furthest behind throughout the country and in the region.

“Over the past 50 years, Ireland has undergone an economic transformation into a services-led and export-oriented modern economy. The Tánaiste said: “It is in all our interests to support Ethiopia on its journey of economic development. We are also committed to supporting those most in need, including the victims of conflict.”

At a roundtable with the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC), the Tánaiste met members to hear about their work on reconciliation

and other national challenges, while sharing Ireland’s experience of Citizens Assemblies and peacebuilding.

“Peacebuilding and reconciliation can be a long road and there is much we can learn from each other. I look forward to welcoming members of the Commission to Ireland later this year,” the Tanaiste remarked.

He also visited the Association for Women’s Sanctuary and Development (AWSAD) Safe House, which provides support and protection to victims of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV).

Speaking after the visit, the Tánaiste said Ireland is proud to be supporting such important work on preventing and responding to gender-based violence.”

“Ending sexual violence is a challenge for every country and Ireland is committed to prevention and response both at home and internationally.” Speaking after the visit,” the Tánaiste said “I’ve received a warm welcome in

the Horn of Africa. The visit reaffirmed that Ireland’s relationship with Kenya and Ethiopia is moving to a new phase. Meeting with students, climate action innovators, peacebuilders, humanitarian workers, community activists, and entrepreneurs, I saw first-hand the new kinds of partnerships, to reinforce prosperity and peace. The challenges facing the region are significant but so too are the opportunities, including for significant growth in two-way trade and investment.”

SHOT BLASTING GALVANIZING PAINTING PURLINS CLADDING Four Elms, Drombanna, Co. Limerick

. Tel: 061 412357 . Fax: 061 415853 . Email: info@shannonsidegalv.com www.shannonsidegalv.com

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Amidst the challenges in Gaza,the IR Palestine team distributes hot food to those in need.

Islamic Relief Helping Ireland’s Vulnerable Yasser Yehiah, General Manager of Islamic Relief Ireland, reflects on the charity’s work and its commitment to partnering with the public sector to support vulnerable communities in Ireland.

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Islamic Relief, founded in the UK in 1984 by a group of concerned postgraduate students, has grown into a global force for good. In 2018, Islamic Relief Ireland was established, operating independently and with a focus on local communities in Ireland and further afield. The charity responds to natural disasters and conflict, promotes sustainable development, and engages in empowerment programmes for women and other vulnerable groups.

It is passionate about advocating for social justice and working to address the root causes of poverty.

Islamic Relief’s work is guided by the values of compassion, justice, custodianship, sincerity, and excellence, principles rooted in the Islamic faith.

However, the charity embraces and supports communities of all religions, races, and cultures, a testament to its commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Helping Communities in Ireland

Islamic Relief’s

cooking food themselves. The partnership has delivered over 17 million hot meals, reaching 300-400,000 people daily since the crisis in Gaza began in October 2023.

(Figures as of 27 May 2024.)

This humanitarian success is primarily due to the charity’s local presence in Palestine since 1997. “We have an established team on the ground, an office and warehouses, and we can adapt to the evolving challenges of access constraints, security risks, and logistical difficulties,” Yasser explains. “The local team plays a crucial role in assessing needs, coordinating response activities and, most importantly, ensuring that the safety and well-being of both aid recipients and humanitarian workers are the priority.”

Many of the local aid workers have lost homes and loved ones themselves, and this shared experience results in high levels of trust between the charity and local communities in Gaza.

Children suffer the most in conflict, and Islamic Relief is engaged with psychosocial support initiatives such as activities to take their minds off the conflict and mobile clinics to assess and help with trauma. Over 90,000 children in Gaza have benefited from this vital work.

Whilst Gaza dominates the media, the civil war in Sudan is a forgotten crisis.

Since rival factions of the government took up arms against each other in April 2023, an estimated 15,000 people have died, 2 million have fled Sudan, and 6.5 million have been displaced internally.

Therefore, the food and emergency aid that Islamic Relief delivers in Sudan and other regions are crucial to saving lives.

work is guided

by the values of

compassion, justice, custodianship, sincerity, and excellence,

principles rooted in the Islamic

faith. However, the charity embraces and supports

communities of all religions, races,

An increasing number of families in Ireland are struggling to make ends meet and are being pushed into food poverty. Islamic Relief Ireland has recently partnered with the Tasnuva Shamim Foundation Ireland to address the needs of vulnerable communities through a weekly food bank, which it hopes to expand to help more families struggling in the current economic climate.

The charity also engages in community outreach to identify the diverse needs of vulnerable sections of the community and support people facing financial hardship, homelessness and other life challenges through needs assessments, direct assistance, community events and workshops.

“Another essential part of our work is advocating for policies and measures that address the root causes of inequality in our country,” says Yasser, expanding on the charity’s activities. “We engage with policymakers and participate in advocacy campaigns to effect needed change as well as forging partnerships and collaborations with like-minded organisations to better serve the needs of vulnerable people here in Ireland.”

Access to education, skills training, and employment opportunities is vital to breaking the cycle of poverty, and the charity actively seeks to partner with other organisations to implement programmes to provide these opportunities.

and cultures, a

testament to its commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Aid Overseas Islamic Relief’s work to provide aid to Gazans impacted by conflict is critical. The charity has partnered with the World Food Programme to deliver hot meals through charity kitchens to displaced families who have no means of refrigerating or

We Are Better Together Like other NGOs, Islamic Relief Ireland faces challenges such as funding constraints, logistical support, and scaling up programmes to reach more vulnerable communities. The charity believes that collaboration with public sector bodies to advocate for, develop and implement policies and measures that address social inequality in Ireland is vital and that the public sector is ideally placed to facilitate partnerships between charities, government agencies, local authorities and other stakeholders. Yasser asserts: “Collaboration and partnerships within the public sector in Ireland are essential to achieving lasting change and we welcome such opportunities. By working together, we can leverage our collective resources, expertise, and networks to address the root causes of poverty in our country and build stronger, more resilient communities across Ireland. I believe that through our shared commitment to compassion, solidarity, and excellence, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of people in adversity.”

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HELP SUPPORT OUR HOMELESS VETERANS OF THE IRISH DEFENCE FORCES Public Sector Magazine

Veterans don’t choose to be homeless or to suffer from Mental Health issues.

Choice by definition comprises of two key elements: Right and Opportunity.

ONE continues to need your assistance to return those rights and opportunities for housing and other support services to our veterans as we strive to ensure that

NO IRISH VETERAN LEFT BEHIND

How ONE Makes a Difference •

51 beds provided for homeless veterans every night.

•

18,615 bed nights a year, between ONE Homes in Athlone, Cobh, Dublin & Letterkenny.

•

1,000 Veterans kept safely off the streets to date.

•

90% of Homeless Veterans supported move on to permanent accommodation.

How can you help?

Choose ONE as your Charity Partner to help with our charitable aim of: NO IRISH VETERAN LEFT BEHIND By partnering with ONE you are providing much needed shelter and care to support veterans who have become homeless and in need of care.

More here: www.one-veterans.org/corporate-sponsorship/

What is our ask?

Through its nationwide network of Branches and Veteran Support Centres, ONE supports the needs of veterans of the Irish Defence Forces by the provision of : • • •

Accommodation to homeless veterans in our Veterans’ Homes Access to various sources of advice and support Access to a range of Mental Health supports

Your donations would greatly assist ONE to fulfill these needs of our homeless veterans

NO IRISH VETERAN LEFT BEHIND Donate Here!

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https://one-veterans.org/

Public Sector Magazine

Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) ONE is a Registered Charity whose primary objective is to support veterans of the Defence Forces by the provision of accommodation to homeless veterans in its Veterans’ Homes and the provision of other advice and support to veterans, in particular Mental Health advice, through its nationwide network of Branches, Veteran Support Centres, and Veteran Support Officers.

The role of ONE can be summarised in four words – Support, Comradeship, Advocacy, & Remembrance. Let us examine what those words mean and in doing so increase our understanding of why ONE needs your support.

veterans are part of that family and cannot be left behind.

Advocacy ONE unashamedly advocates in support of veterans. It advocates particularly on behalf of those who are less fortunate than others. The majority of veterans of the Defence Forces, irrespective of length of service, are very successful in their new careers or are happy in retirement.

However, there are quite a number who need help from time to time.

Support

Support takes many forms. It ranges from a warm greeting to a fellow veteran, to a bed for a homeless veteran in one of our homes, and everything in between. n ONE has thirty-three Branches and three Homeless veteran sleeping under GPO Area Councils.

Remembrance n ONE has fifteen Veteran Support Centres nationwide with the support of the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and Remembrance is the fourth pillar of ONE. Remembrance local authorities. These can be described as a cross between serves to bring or to or keep in mind those who have made the Advice Centres and Men’s / Women’s Sheds. ultimate sacrifice, and we will always honour them. However, n ONE has a professional counselling service for those that we must also remember those veterans who for some reason or need Mental Health support as a result of their service. We are another become homeless or others that need our support. recruiting our fifth Veteran Support Officer (Counsellor) and plan to have seven in place by 2026, our 75th Anniversary.

Funding n ONE has a 24/7 helpline, delivered by Laya Spectrum, for veterans who need Mental Health support out of normal hours.

ONE’s current services cost approximately €1.45M annually, n ONE currently has homes for homeless veterans in Athlone, excluding capital (building) costs. We currently receive Cobh, Dublin & Letterkenny. We are developing five more approximately €640,000 in State1 funding which means that we homes in: Cork; Limerick; Newbridge; Galway; and Louth have to raise approximately €810,000. All donations received are leading to a total of 80 single bedrooms nationwide by the end deeply appreciated and further information is contained in the of 2026. Approximately 1,000 homeless veterans have used our following page. services, with over 90% moving on to permanent housing.

Comradeship

Conclusion

Comradeship evokes a sense of shared experience, a shared culture, a shared set of values, and a willingness to serve. Being part of a veterans’ association helps preserve a sense of identity and a sense of belonging. It also evokes a sense of shared responsibility for those less fortunate than us. The Defence family, like any true community, is not just an organisation; rather it is an organism made up of smaller parts that work together. Homeless

Veterans don’t choose to be homeless or to suffer from Mental Health issues. Choice by definition comprises two key elements: right and opportunity. ONE continues to need your assistance to return those rights and opportunities for housing and other support services to our veterans as we strive to ensure that: No Irish Veteran is Left Behind.

1 Department of Defence, Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, and the HSE

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‘Dochas at 50’ Celebrating 50 years of championing global justice and sustainable development

Over 70% of the world’s refugees come from the most climate-vulnerable countries, and 93% of these countries are in debt distress, highlighting the climate crisis as a major existential threat.

Ireland’s notable history in providing aid and support to the poorest and most vulnerable around the globe is epitomised by Dóchas, an umbrella organisation for Irish non-governmental development and humanitarian bodies. With a foundation built on the belief that all humans are fundamentally equal, Dóchas plays a pivotal role in advocating for Ireland to take a lead in global justice efforts.

Dóchas’s began in 1974 with the creation of Irish Aid, the official government development assistance program.

Recognising the need for a cohesive body to negotiate and lobby the government on development issues, Irish NGOs established the Voluntary Agencies Liaison Committee (VALC). This body was replaced by the Confederation of Non-Governmental Organisations for Overseas Development (CONGOOD) in 1977, aimed at fostering closer collaboration among member organizations.

In 1993, CONGOOD merged with the Irish National Assembly, forming Dóchas – the Irish Association of NonGovernmental Development Organisations. The organization adopted its first Strategic Plan in 1998, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Irish Aid in 2002, and welcomed its first

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Associate Members in 2014.

Today, Dóchas unites 46 full members and 11 associate members, representing a significant network dedicated to international development and humanitarian work.

Dóchas envisions a just, equal, and sustainable world where every person lives with dignity. Its mission is to empower international development and humanitarian organizations in Ireland to achieve greater impact through collaboration. Its’ chief aims are to connect, strengthen, and represent its member organisations while safeguarding Ireland’s reputation as a committed player in global development. It is also a staunch advocate for policies and actions that advance global justice and sustainable development.

Call to Increase Development Aid Dóchas’s pre-budget submission for 2025 emphasises the urgency of meeting Ireland’s international commitments.

The submission calls on the government to increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) to 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2030, with an immediate budget increase of

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€292 million in 2025.

Sustainable Development in a time of Climate It is also urging the government to Crisis commit to a minimum annual climate finance contribution of €225 million, with On May 2024, Dóchas celebrated its a pathway to reach €500 million, reflecting 50th anniversary with a conference Ireland’s fair share and to ensure that titled “Sustainable Development in a 25% of all Irish ODA supports locally led Time of Climate Crisis”, which was humanitarian, development, and peace held at the Royal College of Physicians initiatives. in Dublin. This conference marks a The submission highlights the critical significant milestone, reflecting on issues of conflict, climate change, and five decades of collaboration among hunger, stressing the need for targeted Irish development and humanitarian funding to civil society organizations, organizations. It highlighted the pressing local actors, and women’s organizations. need for collective action to address the Speaking at the launch of the pre-budget climate crisis and advance sustainable submission, Jane-Ann McKenna, CEO of development and explored climate Dóchas, highlighted the widening gap adaptation, anticipatory action, and between humanitarian needs and global strategies for a just transition. funding, urging the government to take Jane-Ann McKenna, CEO of Dóchas The event brought together a transformative action to address food highlighted the widening gap between distinguished group of speakers, insecurity, the climate emergency, and humanitarian needs and global funding, panellists, and attendees to address the structural inequality. urging the government to take transformative critical intersection of climate change, “For International NGO’s working action to address food insecurity, the climate emergency, and structural inequality sustainable development, and global in and through local communities and justice. President Michael D. Higgins organisations, the magnitude of the delivered the keynote speech. multiple crises and the chronic level of underfunding is having The conference commenced with registration and lunch at real and serious consequences. The gap between rapidly noon, providing an opportunity for networking and informal increasing humanitarian needs and global funding is widening, discussions. At 1:00 PM, Jane-Ann McKenna, CEO of Dóchas, forcing impossible choices as to who gets left behind,” she said. officially opened the event with an address which emphasised “Hunger and malnutrition are not inevitable. People capable the significance of the milestone and the urgent themes to be of producing and earning enough food for themselves and their addressed throughout the day. families are being starved – by conflict, climate change, and President Michael D. Higgins delivered the keynote inequality” added Jane-Ann McKenna, “We appeal to the Irish address, setting a profound tone for the conference. He Government to make real and tangible progress to reach our began by acknowledging the remarkable contributions of commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on ODA by 2030. We must Dóchas over the past five decades in advocating for human support those who are furthest behind in least developed countries rights, gender equality, and social justice globally. President and those worst affected by climate change and conflict.”

Higgins highlighted the grave challenges posed by the current The need for increased funding to tackle the climate crisis geopolitical climate, which he said is marked by increasing and global hunger has never been greater. With 240 million people in 69 countries requiring urgent humanitarian assistance, military expenditure and pervasive inequality.

He called for a recommitment to the principles of social the organisation is calling on the Irish government to fulfil its responsibility and justice, urging global citizens to confront promise of allocating 0.7% of GNI to ODA. McKenna points crises with sustained effort, energy, and innovation and he out that over 70% of the world’s refugees come from the most stressed the critical need for transformative action in addressing climate-vulnerable countries, and 93% of these countries are the climate emergency, food insecurity, and the protection of in debt distress, highlighting the climate crisis as a major vulnerable populations. existential threat.

President Michael D. Higgins emphasised the urgent need However, recent research by Dóchas reveals low levels of for a transformative shift in how we approach global food knowledge about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals security, climate change, and socio-economic inequalities. His among the Irish public. According to the research only 12% of speech highlighted several key themes and subjects critical to Irish people are aware of and understand the SDGs while less addressing the current crises effectively. than 10% believe climate change will significantly impact them He stressed the need to move beyond reactive responses to personally. Over half of respondents perceive climate change as emergencies and address the structural causes of hunger. He a problem for future generations and developing countries. pointed out that achieving food security is impossible without Meanwhile, the research also found that three in five people confronting the deep-rooted inequalities in the global food feel a moral obligation to support overseas aid, with more than system. Issues such as land grabbing, corporate monopolies, three-quarters supporting the government’s provision of ODA. and unfair trade practices were identified as significant barriers The primary global concerns for Irish people are war, conflict, perpetuating poverty and insecurity. He called for courageous terrorism, economic crises, job security, and wages. and united action to dismantle these inequitable structures.

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In May 2024, Dóchas celebrated its 50th anniversary with a conference titled “Sustainable Development in a Time of Climate Crisis”, where President Michael D. Higgins delivered the keynote speech, A significant portion of the speech focused on the urgent need to retreat from dysfunctional food systems and embrace models that promote sufficiency and local market effectiveness.

President Higgins advocated for food production models that prioritise local wisdom, seed sovereignty, and respect for indigenous practices.

He emphasised the importance of considering the environmental impacts of large-scale land and water resource ownership and promoting soil fertility. These reforms, he argued, would lead to greater autonomy and resilience in local communities.

Food Security “We have to say where we stand on the competing models of food security. Are we in favour of a science driven industrial agriculture without conditions or are we willing to insist on small farmer agency, diversity of crops, privileging the priority for meeting local need with essential nutritious human food systems?” he said.

“We must face up to the stark facts that illustrate the dysfunctionality of our current food systems.

“Half of the world’s over 8 billion population are defined as malnourished, 2 billion people are experiencing under-nutrition, over 2.5 billion people consume low-quality diets or too much food, while 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet.

“In Africa alone, 26.2 percent of Africa’s population experienced severe food insecurity in 2021, with 9.8 percent of the total global population suffering from undernourishment

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the same year.

“Our agri-food systems are broken, not fit for purpose. The existing systems are causing our planet harm, leading to food dependency, food insecurity and hunger.

“Of all those connected to the land in one way or another, 71% own 1% of the land. A new race for land, financed by large corporations is under way in Africa.

“We have not addressed the basic structural issues that influence food insecurity. Perhaps most critically of all, we must address the root causes of food insecurity, which are often rooted in inequality, injustice, and an exploitation that had its sources in assumptions rooted in colonial-imposed policy.”

President Higgins also stressed the importance of amplifying the voices of those most affected by climate change.

He called for ensuring that their perspectives, knowledge, and aspirations are central to global efforts and highlighted the need for regionally led initiatives, managed and implemented by indigenous populations. Such approaches are key to achieving long-term peace, justice, and sustainable living.

Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Development Adaptation to the already changing climate was another critical theme. President Higgins emphasised the need to restore degraded ecosystems, introduce drought-resistant crops, and spoke of the need to ensure accessible digital services for smallholder farms. He advocated for creating sustainable

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IBAN: IE91 AIBK 9354 7624 7683 45 (BIC/SWIFT: AIBKIE2D) www.salesiansireland.ie the Public Sector Magazine

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green jobs for young people, promoting a smart, sustainable, and climate-resilient development path for the most vulnerable members of the global community.

Calling for a radical departure from individualistic politics towards a politics of the many, President Higgins stressed the need for a values-led approach to politics and food security, grounded in empirical evidence. Such an approach is essential not only for addressing global hunger but also for preserving democracy and fulfilling global citizenship responsibilities.

President Higgins highlighted the alarming failure to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With only 15 percent of the targets on track, he called for a redoubling of efforts and a paradigm shift that prioritizes planetary well-being over short-term gains. Despite the daunting challenges, he expressed cautious optimism, emphasizing the possibility of positive change through collective will and determination.

A Just Transition in the Global South

We have not addressed the basic structural issues that influence food insecurity. Perhaps most critically of all, we must address the root causes of food insecurity, which are often rooted in inequality, injustice, and an exploitation that had its sources

Following President Higgins’s speech the first panel discussion which was moderated by Sadhbh O’Neill, Senior Climate Advisor at Friends of the Earth Ireland explored the concept of a just transition in the Global South. Panellists included Prof. Attiya Waris, Professor at the Law School of the University of Nairobi and UN Independent Expert on Foreign Debt, Other International Financial Obligations, and Human Rights, Ms. Karol Balfe, CEO of ActionAid Ireland and Mr. Zachary Lager, Global Carbon Coordinator at Self Help Africa The discussion focused on ensuring that the transition to sustainable practices does not exacerbate existing inequalities.

Prof. Waris emphasised the importance of addressing historical injustices and ensuring that local communities are active participants in shaping their futures. Ms. Balfe and Mr. Lager highlighted the critical role of grassroots organisations in driving sustainable development and the need for inclusive policies that prioritise the voices of marginalized populations.

Following the first panel, attendees had a chance to continue their discussions informally during a coffee break and networking session, fostering connections and collaborations among participants.

The second panel, moderated by Réiseal Ní Chéilleachair, Head of International Advocacy at Concern Worldwide, addressed the adaptation of humanitarian action in response to the climate emergency. Panellists included Dr. Hugo Slim, Senior Research

in assumptions

UCD Innovation Academy

rooted in

The conference was supported by the UCD Innovation Academy, which is currently offering funded places on their MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability.

This unique master’s program bridges sustainability knowledge and skills, preparing students for impactful roles in addressing climate challenges. The UCD Innovation Academy’s support underscored the importance of educational initiatives in fostering sustainable development.

The Dóchas at 50 conference was a pivotal event, reflecting on five decades of impactful collaboration and setting the stage for future efforts to address the climate crisis and achieve sustainable development. The discussions and insights shared by esteemed speakers and panelists underscored the critical need for concerted action and reinforced Dóchas’ commitment to fostering a just, equal, and sustainable world.

Through its advocacy, network building, and strategic initiatives, Dóchas plays a crucial role in shaping Ireland’s international development policies. The organization’s 2025 budget demands, call for increased funding, and efforts to raise public awareness of the SDGs highlight the urgent need for transformative action. As Dóchas celebrates its 50th anniversary, it continues to lead the charge towards a just, equal, and sustainable world.

colonial-imposed policy.

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Fellow at the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at the University of Oxford, Mr. Paul Knox Clarke, Principal of the ADAPT Initiative, Ms. Nishanie Jayamaha, Colead at the Secretariat for the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations and Mr. Maurice Sadlier, Programme Director at World Vision Ireland This panel highlighted the need for anticipatory action and adaptive strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations. Dr. Slim spoke of the urgency of integrating climate considerations into humanitarian responses. Mr. Knox Clarke and Ms. Jayamaha discussed innovative approaches to enhance resilience in affected communities, while Mr. Sadlier emphasised the importance of localised interventions and community-led initiatives.

Jane-Ann McKenna concluded the conference by reiterating the key themes and calls to action discussed throughout the day. She highlighted the critical role of collaboration and solidarity in achieving sustainable development goals and addressing the climate crisis.

The event concluded with a reception celebrating Dóchas’ 50th anniversary, providing an opportunity for attendees to reflect on the day’s discussions and forge new partnerships.

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APA CHARITY SHOPS

Donate now - APA recycles, upcycles and reuses your unwanted furniture APA is rooted in a spirit of volunteerism in Ireland and operates volunteer-led charity shops in Carlow, Hacketstown and Athlone, these shops are important to APA’s income but also promote the sharing and re-utilization of donated goods; contributing to waste reduction and a healthier environment.

APA welcomes donations of saleable furniture, clothing and household items for our charity shops, we can collect goods in the Dublin area.

Tel 083 0118650 or Email management@apa.ie Visit www.apa.ie APA also offers volunteering opportunities - contact us today to find out more. the Public Sector Magazine

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Implementing Rule of Law James Douglas Executive Director, Irish Rule of Law International talks about the organisation’s work with Dóchas.

Whether it be charitable governance issues, thematic training on diverse topics such as gender mainstreaming and leadership, or de-colonial approaches to development, IRLI has enjoyed a very fruitful relationship with Dóchas throughout its operations.

Dóchas and its network have enabled IRLI to effectively implement rule of law projects in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, all while ensuring that all programmes are designed in a way that takes into consideration sensitivities in operating in the development sphere.

IRLI is a project-oriented rule of law organisation, that was formed in the aftermath of post-apartheid South Africa. IRLI is an all-Ireland body, and forms the charitable arm of the legal professions located on the island of Ireland.

Starting from humble beginnings- the delivery of commercial training to South African lawyers – IRLI has over the years grown significantly to include larger access to justice projects in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, all covering a range of different topics. IRLI has also been involved in domestic initiatives, such as the Afghanistan Justice Appeal, which

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successfully housed 10 women judges and their families fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, and providing them with educational and career support.

IRLI’s biggest project is in Malawi, where we operate a field office, staffed with 10 people. The aims of the project are to enhance access to justice for unrepresented accused persons- adults and children- with a view to decongest Malawi’s overcrowded prisons. IRLI achieves this through a secondment model, where Malawian and international lawyers are embedded within Malawi’s primary justice institutions - the police, prosecution, legal aid and the judiciary- so as to build their capacity. IRLI also runs a child diversion programme which advocates for the application of non-custodial sentences for children who come into conflict with the law. In addition to advocating for access to justice to unrepresented accused persons, IRLI works with local partners to advocate access to justice for victims of gender-based violence.

Malawi, being our flagship program, has enabled IRLI to develop the requisite knowledge and expertise on rule

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IRLI has enjoyed a very fruitful relationship with Dóchas throughout its operations. of law issues, and to apply it to other contexts. In Tanzania, our programme seeks to foster and strengthen partnerships between the police and judiciaries in Tanzania, Northern Ireland with a view to mutual learning and improved handling of child sexual abuse (CSA) cases. The project seeks to harness Ireland’s own history of handling CSA – which was characterised by initial underreporting followed by waves of prosecution in the 1990s- and build the strength of the Tanzanian criminal justice actors who face similar obstacles.

Our Zambia project focuses on two main issues: helping to tackle the widespread corruption in the country, and improving access to justice for unrepresented accused persons in Zambia’s prisons through the development of a Camp Courts system, similar to the one run by IRLI in Malawi.

IRLI has a demonstrated expertise in the area of criminal justice reform. Our growth, and links to the North, have enabled us to branch out into other thematic areas. We recently finished a pilot project in Somalia, which – building on the skills of transitional justice actors on the island of Ireland – sought to provide victim groups with the requisite expertise to engage in conversations around truth and reconciliation. Due to the success of the pilot project, IRLI is looking at starting a new transitional justice programme in Ethiopia.

Operating in such diverse contexts has indeed posed challenges. IRLI’s collaboration in the Dóchas network has ensured that we are kept abreast of best practices, policies, and procedures when it comes to operating in such challenging contexts.

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Empowered with APA Empowering the people of Ethiopia and Tanzania – APA’s Joe Jennings talks about the flagship project ‘Empowered’.

Seated from row l to R: Vickly Kanyoka, IDWF representative for Africa:Adriana Paz Ramirez, General Secretary of the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) Mr Said Wamba, General Secretary of the CHODAWU Trade Union in Tanzania, Marian Lambert, APA Board member meeting Domestic Workers and local partner staff in Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

APA facilitates

A Partnership with Africa (APA) is an Irish NGO based in Kimmage Manor, Dublin and was founded in 2004 as a registered company and charity (CHY15814). APA facilitates development through partnership with the people of Africa. The founder of APA is Fr Owen Lambert, a Spiritan missionary priest who worked for over 30 years in Ethiopia and Tanzania. APA works with a small core team in the Dublin office and an extensive network of volunteers around Ireland who assist in administrative work, awareness raising, and running charity shops.

APA’s work focuses on the empowerment of women, girls, and children, and many vulnerable and marginalised groups in Ethiopia and Tanzania. We believe that sustainable change occurs when it is driven by local people who define their own challenges and create their own solutions through their local existing

development through

partnerships with

the people of Africa

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structures and institutions. As a result, project implementation is carried out by upskilled local people who are facilitated by the local government and project team.

Promoting Decent Work, Rights and Dignity for Domestic Workers

APA’s flagship project EMPOWERED promotes decent work, rights and dignity for domestic workers in Ethiopia & Tanzania in partnership with Irish Aid, CVM (Community Volunteers of the World) and local partners.

Domestic workers are young women working in other people’s homes. They are mostly engaged in cleaning, cooking, taking care of children, people with disabilities and the elderly.

Informal work as domestic work represents an important

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APA’s work strengthens domestic workers’ associations and trade unions and provides professional training that will enable participants to obtain better job Domestic workers invited to the Tanzanian Parliament to demand their rights to be recognised in law

opportunities.

Ms Adriana Paz. General Secretary of the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) meeting Domestic Workers in Bagamoyo, Tanzania , December 2023. Photo APA.

APA Patron Ruth Negga - APA works with schools and youth groups in Ireland to understand the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing the challenges through our projects

employment opportunity for many women with disadvantaged socio-economic conditions. However, many girls and young women working in this sector are subjected to serious violations of their human rights including trafficking. Large numbers work in near slavery and many children in domestic work are unable to attend school. Statistics reveal that in Ethiopia only 36.2 % of girls are in secondary education; while in Tanzania only 8% of girls that enrol in Secondary School complete their education. ​​APA’s work strengthens domestic workers associations and Trade Unions and provides professional training that will enable participants to obtain better job opportunities. APA also runs a dedicated shelter for trafficked women directly through protection services in Addis Ababa and indirectly through the training of law enforcement agents that address trafficking of girls and children

Training session for Domestic Workers in Mororgoro, Tanzania, March 2024. Photo by CVM

Protection for Domestic Workers With the backing of the Irish Government and the Irish public, the EMPOWERED project has established hundreds of new domestic workers associations in both Ethiopia and Tanzania with the help of trade unions and other partners. Over 20,000 domestic workers are now directly involved in their own associations and in November 2023, a group of 25 domestic

workers were invited to the Tanzanian Parliament to participate in a debate on ratification of the UN /ILO Convention 189 which provides constitutional protection for domestic workers as a category of work.

Since January 2023 domestic workers in Tanzania are entitled to an increased minimum wage and a written contract.

Further information available at www.apa.ie

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Keeping Inclusive Development On The Agenda Dualta Roughneen, CEO of CBM Ireland, explores why improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the world’s poorest countries is a critical issue in a time of competing priorities.

The World Health Organisation states that 16% of the world’s population, 1.6 billion people, live with a disability. That represents 1 in 6 people in the world today coping not just with their disability but with the inequality, stigma, discrimination, poverty and exclusion that persons with disabilities face, particularly in developing countries.

This inequality is the focal concern of Christian Blind Mission (CBM), whose vision is an inclusive world where all people with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.

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Championing The Most Vulnerable CBM, as a global organisation, was founded 116 years ago in 1908, when German Ernst Christoffel created a home for blind children in Turkey. CBM Ireland celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2023.

From simple beginnings, CBM moved to other countries to help those with visual difficulties and restore sight, including setting up medical facilities if none existed. Today, as Dualta Roughneen explains, the CBM has evolved to operate across 20 countries.

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One of CBM Ireland’s main areas of focus is encouraging the Irish government to harmonise national legislation with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) “CBM’s work now is wide-ranging — continuing to provide surgery to treat blindness and other disabilities but also working at the community level to change attitudes towards people with disabilities while working with governments and other NGOs to improve their work and approach towards disability.”

One of CBM Ireland’s main areas of focus is encouraging the Irish government to harmonise national legislation with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD)

National Harmonisation Ireland became a party to the UN CRPD in 2007. However, the government did not ratify the Convention until March 2018, a delay that proved to be the longest of any other EU state.

Ratification was a positive step, but successive governments argued that it could only occur once national legislation was aligned with the Convention, as Ireland would be bound to it under international law.

Yet, six years after ratification, the Irish government still needs to work to harmonise national legislation with the UN CRPD, particularly regarding Article 32—International Cooperation.

In January 2024, the Joint Committee on Disability Matters reported on progress towards harmonisation. Out of 29 indicators, only four were highlighted as having made good progress. By contrast, 12 indicators had limited progress, 11 had no progress, and Ireland was regressing in 2 areas.

Dualta Roughneen comments on the Joint Committee’s findings. “It feels that once the objective of ratification of the UN CRPD was completed, that interest and attention fell away somewhat. There is also the challenge of competing priorities. Still, in Ireland, we are not poor, and resources are not constrained to the extent that we should see regression on disability rights. It is a matter of priorities.”

Dualta goes on to say. “We would like to see a focus on disability. Ireland is committed to ‘leaving no one behind’ and putting ‘the furthest behind first’, meaning disability should be front and centre.”

CBM Ireland applauds the work of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, which has been meeting with disability stakeholders and has invested massive time and energy in ensuring that disability issues are highlighted to government departments.

Yet, more accountability is needed to accomplish harmonisation and progress the objectives outlined by Article 32 which directs international cooperation to be inclusive of persons with disabilities. Firm commitments, standards, and benchmarks are required for accountability at the government level.

There is potential for a new government with an election in Ireland in late 2024 or early 2025.

CBM Ireland will be asking politicians Dualta Roughneen, CEO of CBM Ireland to make firm commitments to ensure Ireland’s obligations under the UN CRPD Article 11 and Article 32 pertaining to emergencies and international cooperation are fully recognised and implemented in its approach to development and humanitarian action in both policy and funding by: n Ensuring that Ireland adopts a twin-track approach to disability inclusion in its overseas aid and international cooperation, ensuring disability mainstreaming is a priority in all overseas assistance, and with ring-fenced funding for disability-focused investment and programming commensurate to the level of the population experiencing disability. n Developing an Irish Aid-led strategy on disability inclusion in international cooperation. n Ensuring the foundations for disability inclusion outlined in the UN CRPD – universal access, reasonable accommodation, data disaggregation, amongst others – are included as minimum standards for all international cooperation. n Ensuring that disability inclusion is recognised as a standalone commitment in the successor to the Sustainable Development Goals rather than being treated as a secondary consideration as it is currently in the SDGs. When deciding where to focus a limited pot of overseas aid, competing priorities can arise, and those priorities can change with time, circumstances, and what is popular on the global discussion stage. CBM Ireland is adamant that, even if the focus is elsewhere, discussions cannot be blind to disability since it is persons with disabilities who are most at risk in any adverse situation and whose plight is most likely to be overlooked.

It circles back to the Irish government’s ambition to reach ‘the furthest behind, first’. Even identifying which group are ‘furthest behind’ to target them can be a contentious topic, however as Dualta Roughneen points out. “From a CBM Ireland perspective, working in isolated areas in the poorest countries with people with disabilities, we can argue a strong case simply from a practical perspective. People with disabilities have additional requirements to have their human rights fulfilled; there are physical and social obstacles to overcome; these often

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NGO occupies a supportive role, including the supply of specialist expertise unavailable in the local country where relevant, gives people in the world’s poorest countries dignity and ownership of their solutions.

Challenges And Opportunities

cost money and require investment — in countries where investment is limited, resources are poor for services in general, never mind investment in specialised support.”

CBM On The Ground In addition to advocating for the rights of persons with disability and working to influence political policy, CBM continues its original work of delivering aid on the ground to those who most need it.

Dualta Roughneen highlights an ambitious new aid programme CBM is engaging with in Madagascar. “We worked with Dr Andrew Blaikie at the University of St Andrews in Scotland to develop low-cost, solar-powered eye screening equipment that is robust and easy for community health workers to use. It is called the Arclight, and we will begin a project to screen infants in rural areas in Madagascar using this tool. It means that many newborn children will get tested for possible blindness-causing diseases that are very preventable.

They will then be referred and supported to get surgery or other suitable treatment in the nearest hospital. This will mean that their issues will be caught early before they end up with lifelong blindness. We hope this will be a game-changer in Madagascar and offer the gift of sight to thousands of children who might otherwise not have had it. Sometimes, solutions to difficult problems can be quite simple. And the simplicity of the Arclight might save children’s sight where expensive equipment fails.”

The project will initially run for 3 years, but CBM hopes to secure funding to extend it and expand it to other countries.

This Madagascan project is a fantastic example of CBM’s commitment to locally-led development and partnering with local organisations in the places they deliver aid. Dualta remarks: “We don’t feel that it is the case that, just because we are Irish educated and well-meaning, we have the right to swoop in and start imposing ourselves in someone else’s country. We work with them in a supportive role.”

CBM Ireland recognises that local organisations best know what their communities need and the most effective way to deliver aid. Local organisations also enjoy high levels of trust.

This model of delivering overseas aid, where the international

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In common with many NGOs, CBM views finances as a significant challenge. Dualta says, “We see inflation in many countries we work in, meaning we have to try to do the same work with relatively fewer resources.”

Sadly, inflation in developing countries is often the result of instability or conflict, resulting in increasing levels of disability at a time when resources are often diverted elsewhere.

Another challenge can be resources being weighted towards causes that are currently fashionable. When that happens, it can be challenging to keep the rights of persons with disabilities high on the priority list.

Despite challenges, Dualta is optimistic about the opportunities: “In the places we work, there are a growing number of organisations that are made up of people with disabilities who know what needs to be done locally and in their countries to put disability on the agenda. We need to support them in having their voices heard in places where they are not being listened to. They do not have access to the fora that we, as an international organisation, do, and our opportunity is, ironically, to step back and let them come to the fore.”

CBM also recognises fantastic partnership opportunities and is keen to explore those with organisations in Ireland and further afield that want to incorporate disability into their work, as well as organisations comprised of persons with disabilities who can lend their expert opinion. In addition, CBM continues to value its partnership with Irish Aid and the Irish government.

The need for funding growth is ever-present, and CBM also views incremental improvement, efficient and ethical work practices, and good funding stewardship as ongoing learning opportunities.

Dualta wraps up with a heartfelt call to action. “We appreciate our supporters more than it is possible to convey – whether they are individual members of the public or institutions such as Irish Aid. It isn’t possible to do our work without their support.

Financial support, of course, helps. It keeps the doors open, and we welcome it wholeheartedly.

But there are other ways of supporting too. With elections coming up, it is a great time to remind our politicians that disability rights are human rights and that the extra cost that can come with prioritising disability inclusion is something that is TO SUPPORT CBM IRELAND’S our responsibility as WORK PLEASE VISIT a shared society to www.cbm.ie/donate/ invest in.”

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Barnabé Chrystphaire is an 11-yearold boy who lives in a small village in Ambositra, located about 300km from the capital Madagascar.

He suffered from a bilateral cataract.

At the age of 2, Barnabas had already suffered from cataracts: having seen a white spot in his left eye, his mother took him to the basic health center of Ambositra where he underwent his first surgery.

Years passed, and at the age of 10, Barnabas’ parents noticed another white spot on both his eyes.

Barnabas said he had blurred vision and had trouble seeing objects

from near or far, and in addition, the colors were dull and the details difficult to distinguish. He also complained of headaches when he came home from school and said he was finding it increasingly difficult to see clearly. Eventually, he had to quit school. Worried, his parents decided to take Barnabé to Fianarantsoa Hospital, which referred them to the capital’s hospital.

After long months of waiting to save

enough money for travel and medical expenses, Barnabas, accompanied by his mother and grandmother, came to the capital for an eye consultation. He was cared for by the team in the pediatric ophthalmology unit, where he underwent successful surgeries for both eyes.

After the surgery, Barnabas’ life changed dramatically: he shared that his vision has improved markedly, the colors are brighter, and the details clearer; He plans to return to school once he arrives in the village and easily wins marbles. “Now that I see very well, I can go back to school and win marbles.” Barnabas, 11 years old.

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Public Sector Magazine

Don Bosco Aid Don Bosco Aid’s Abigail Nugent talks about the organisation’s work and its latest projects.

Solar PV Trainer of Trainers Workshop

Youth Centre Cameroon

Don Bosco Aid fully embraces the Dóchas vision for “a just, equal and sustainable world, where every person has the right to live their life with dignity”.

Don Bosco Aid is the development office of the Salesians in Ireland and as such is part of the wider work of the Salesian Congregation globally, consisting of over 14,000 Brothers and Priests working in 135 countries. The Salesian vocation is about bringing hope and new possibilities to people affected by poverty, war, and inequality. Within this, our work has a particular focus on the needs of young people, especially those among them experiencing disadvantage.

Don Bosco Aid fully embraces the Dóchas vision for “a just, equal and sustainable world, where every person has the right to live their life with dignity”. We work through Salesian partners to support locally led development. This includes diverse areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, youth work, human rights promotion, environmental sustainability, and women’s empowerment.

One example which combines the fields of environmental sustainability and Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a 3-year project currently underway in

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which solar (photovoltaic) technology training is provided to disadvantaged young people in Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. These young people are being equipped for the future with livelihood opportunities in renewable energy.

We also recognise the impact of gender inequality worldwide, and so are delighted to support projects that tackle gender-based discrimination and work for gender equity.

Given the increasing prevalence and devastating impact of natural and human made disasters throughout the world, we also do our utmost to provide humanitarian aid in these contexts.

In emergency situations, Salesian communities who are already present on the ground are ideally placed to bring practical support to those in need. In recent years, we have provided emergency relief to those impacted by famine, earthquakes, and conflict in places such as Tigray (Ethiopia), Syria, South Sudan, Palestine and Ukraine. This has included the provision of essential supplies such as food and shelter, as well as addressing trauma through various psychosocial supports.

Public Sector Magazine

Don Bosco Aid supports education projects providing basic education and employment skills for children and people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

FUNDARISING Fr Dan Carroll, Don Bosco Aid’s Mission Office Director discusses fundraising and how the organization is supporting Salesian Missionary projects in 30 countries.

With the help of individual donors, other organisations and especially Misean Cara (through funding from Irish Aid), Don Bosco Aid supports the work of the Salesians in over 30 countries worldwide.

In each of these countries, desperately impoverished children and their families face heartbreaking personal catastrophes that should garner global attention, but don’t. As a result, their very lives and futures are at stake.

Education is at the heart of everything the Salesians do, and every effort is made to make schools accessible for as many children as possible. Don Bosco Aid supports education projects providing basic education and employment skills for children and people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

When children go to school and are truly supported in their learning, they become capable of transforming their futures.

We also partner with Salesian communities who work closely with refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

For instance, we support sustainable agricultural training for refugees and

members of the host community in Turkana County, Kenya, with the aim of improving agricultural production, food security, and nutrition. We are also working to improve access to quality primary education for children in the IDP camp and host community in Gumbo, South Sudan, via the Don Bosco primary school. We hope to achieve this through in-service teacher training and the provision of 3 additional classrooms, adequate learning materials, sports materials, and furniture.

It is difficult to overstate the enormous challenges faced by refugees and IDPs across the world, and we are infinitely grateful for our Salesian partners who are working so hard to bring hope, care, and practical help where they can.

Water is a major worldwide concern. Where clean water is available, food is cooked, sanitation issues are addressed, and people have safe water to drink. The health of a community is transformed. Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda are just some of the places where Salesian missionaries have been able to respond to this great need. Hunger is a daily reality for young

people, as is the risk of water-borne disease.

Both factors work against educational achievement. Malnourished students suffer higher rates of cognitive impairments than their peers, and chronic illnesses keep them away from the classroom. That’s why our missionaries provide clean water and nutritious daily meals.

Generous supporters make miracles happen around the world. With the support of our donors, Salesians can provide safe water, clean clothes, basic medicine, and shelter for children and families with nowhere else to turn. We are so grateful for all those who choose to support this work, including those who choose to remember the Salesians in their Will. Thanks to their generosity, hope and the chance of a new start is offered to many. The Salesian mission meets youth where they are, engaging them through education and support programmes to give them a brighter future. Would you like to be part of this story and support the work of Don Bosco Aid? Visit www.salesiansireland.ie.

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Public Sector Magazine

It’s not just a drought.

With climate change it’s a fight for survivaL

PLEASE GIVE NOW

trocaire.org | 1800 408 408 Photo: Trócaire. Charity No: 20204842.

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Public Sector Magazine

Take Action With Bóthar As the world contends with the escalating impacts of climate change, every initiative, group, and organisation plays a critical role in addressing this urgent issue. Bóthar, meaning “way” or “path” in Irish, represents a guiding approach to tackling climate change through sustainable practices, education, and community engagement.

Consolee, Rwanda 2024: standing proudly in her maize field.

Consolee moved to sustainable farming after receiving training and a cow through Bóthar’s Pass-on-Gift programme.

Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a present reality affecting ecosystems, economies, and communities around the globe.

Countries where Bóthar works typically have less economic resilience to cope with climate-related shocks. Limited access to financial resources, technology, and infrastructure means longer routes to recovery from disasters. The social fabric of developing countries is intricately tied to the environment, and climate change exacerbates existing inequalities.

Vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, and marginalised communities, experience the brunt of climate impacts. Women in rural areas are often responsible for water collection and food preparation. As resources become scarcer due to drought or flooding, their labour burdens increase, and their health outcomes deteriorate.

Bóthar is an organisation committed to providing sustainable agricultural solutions and empowering communities worldwide. By focusing on practices that preserve the environment and promote resilience, Bóthar embodies a holistic approach to addressing climate change.

Here’s How Bóthar Is Helping: Sustainable Livelihoods: Bóthar provides communities with sustainable farming practices that not only enhance food security but also reduce carbon footprints. Through training and resources, farmers are educated on agroecological methods, which prioritise biodiversity and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

Waste Reduction: Initiatives often include waste management programs that teach communities how to compost organic waste and reduce landfill contributions, thus lowering methane emissions — a potent greenhouse gas.

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Education and Community Engagement: Bóthar emphasises the importance of education in fostering a culture of sustainability. By involving communities in climate action, the projects reinforce the idea that collective responsibility can lead to significant change.

Global Partnerships: Engaging with international organisations, governments, and local entities creates a network of climateconscious initiatives. This collaborative approach enhances the efficiency of climate action efforts worldwide.

While organisations like Bóthar are vital in leading initiatives against climate change, individual action is equally important.

Action You Can Take: Educate Yourself and Others:

Stay informed about climate change and its impacts. Share knowledge with peers to cultivate a community that is aware and proactive.

Supporting sustainable farming practices helps reduce carbon emissions associated with food transportation and promotes responsible land use.

Join local climate action groups or support organisations like Bóthar. Participation in community programs can amplify efforts to combat climate change at the grassroots level.

Engage with policymakers and advocate for sustainable policies that prioritise environmental protection and climate resilience.

Climate change is the most pressing challenge of our time.

Addressing these challenges requires immediate and sustained global action. As climate change continues to threaten the very foundation of economies and societies in developing regions, it is imperative that the international community rallies together to provide the support needed to secure their futures. Only through collective action can we hope to build a more resilient world for both developing nations and humanity at large.

Organisations like Bóthar demonstrate how a committed, community-based approach can make a tangible difference in mitigating its effects. By prioritising sustainability and education, they show that collective action can lead to meaningful change. Every one of us has a role to play in this fight for our planet’s future. By walking the path of sustainability and embracing the ethos of Bóthar, we can contribute to a more resilient world for generations to come.

Contact: info@bothar.ie Call: 061414142 www.bothar.ie Meet us at the National Ploughing Championship September 2024 Registered charity number 20026592 Charity Number: CHY10460

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Kabihogo Aurea, Rwanda

Take action with Bóthar Become a Regular Donor

Share Our Mission

Consistent funding allows us to plan effectively.

Set up a Direct Debit or Standing Order.

Spread the word about Bóthar and our impact.

Follow us on

Host a Fundraising Event

Support our projects.

Organise your workplace; school or community to raise funds for Bóthar.

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For more information visit: www.bothar.ie Freephone: 1800 268 463 Email: info@bothar.ie Charity Number 20026592

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Public Sector Magazine

AIT in Africa Action Ireland Trust (AIT) began operations in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal in South Africa in 2006. It delivered services and facilities to rural communities in education, health, and orphan care. Currently, AIT is delivering services, mostly in education, in Lesotho.

AIT operations, included the construction of feeding centres, orphan houses, and the improvements of school facilities and services. This period was done in collaboration with “Friends In Ireland” under the stewardship of Marian Finucane, recently deceased, and her partner John Clarke.

Programmes include the professional development of teachers and the delivery of health screening and health services to the local community. This period of operations in South Africa allowed volunteers and senior leadership within AIT to develop a very successful programme in The Kingdom of Lesotho. In 2012, on the invitation of Mannete Ramaili, the then Lesotho Ambassador to Ireland, AIT moved operations and developed programmes in education for Lesotho. Action Ireland Trust engaged in a consultation process with The Ministry of Education and community leaders. From this, a new programme was born in a mountainous and remote area northwest of Maseru in Ha Hlalele.

This programme saw a new emphasis on early childhood development, child centre teaching and learning and a commitment to “The Wash Programme”. With a strong team and inspired leadership, a dynamic programme was negotiated with The Ministry of Education and community leaders, school leaders and learners. The programme included a purpose-built Early Childhood Development Centre for children 0 to 5. The programme delivered sanitation facilities, a new science block, a music room, an IT room, a staff room and an enterprise programme that included chicken, pig, and rabbit rearing facilities and beekeeping.

These facilities and initiatives were developed to inspire young people to be enterprising and inspirational to others.

Local architects, engineers, and tradespeople from Maseru delivered the planning and design of these facilities under the supervision of CWPA Swords, Dublin, and with the support of RISE International in Maseru. Country Crest from North County Dublin supported the farming and agricultural elements.

Proper planning and development were poorly resourced and lacking. Following consultation with Local Government and Chieftainship in Lesotho, AIT forged relationships with Fingal County Council and began looking at development plans for local areas and wider national development. Detailed maps, knowledge, and information were in poor supply. #MapLesotho was created, and a concerted effort was made to map the country. Open sources were used, and a number of 24-hour marathons were scheduled.

Students from Portmarnock Community School were at the fore. They went on to win awards at Young Social Innovators, BT Young Scientist and SAGE. Lesotho is now the best-mapped country in Africa. With all this knowledge and information in place, putting it to good use was critical. Fingal County Council sponsored the studies of Basotho planners who came to Dublin to complete a master’s in planning. Over four years, five planners

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Early Childhood Development Centre developed with the support of the Quinn Foundation

from The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship Lesotho studied at DIT Dublin, now DUT. These students are now senior planners in Maseru, putting in place strategically important development plans for the future of The Kingdom of Lesotho.

Action Ireland Trust is currently working in five schools in Maseru, bringing hope and opportunity to a greater number of learners, teachers, and their wider communities. AIT measures its impact and outcomes by increasing enrolments, decreasing learner dropout, increasing the participation of parents and guardians in children’s education, and moving from punishmentbased classroom management to child-friendly engagement.

Implementation of the SAOR programme has been critical in these outcomes. The programme provides sanitary care products to young girls in local schools and has helped reduce absenteeism among girls at critical times in their education.

With a holistic and all-embracing approach, AIT continues to deliver a dynamic and comprehensive development programme in Lesotho. This ongoing work is crucial for delivering long-term results and changing the lives of ordinary people, particularly the young.

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WORKING TO CHANGE THE FUTURE

Want to get involved? Contact us today

CONTACTS: actionirelandtrust.ie |info@actionirelandtrust.ie | +353 86 2885806 actionirelandtrust

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Public Sector Magazine

The Minister’s Message

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Photo Credit: DFA

Potato Farmers with Minister Seán Fleming in Malawi in 2023.

Minister Seán Fleming at Kasimeri Primary School in Karamoja Region of northern Uganda in 2023 behind in this time of intertwined crises: missionaries, volunteers, educators, health workers and NGO workers. Their legacy is part of Ireland’s global influence and reach.

I congratulate Dóchas on their 50th anniversary and thank them for their contribution to the international development sector.

Photo Credit: DFA

For five decades, Ireland has worked with partners around the world to tackle poverty, hunger and humanitarian need in over 130 countries. As we mark 50 years of the Government’s Official Development Assistance programme, Irish Aid, we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dóchas this year.

Dóchas was established in 1974 as the representative association for a network of 14 Irish nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) working in overseas development. Over the past 50 years, we have worked closely with Dóchas and other Irish organisations in our humanitarian and development efforts to deliver a collective vision for a just, equal, and sustainable world.

I am proud of our nation’s achievements in helping those around the world living in crisis and poverty. Many food systems in the Global South suffer challenges such as drought, diseases and shortages, all compounded by conflict and climate change. Programmes funded by Ireland’s ODA programme are making a tangible difference to the lives of people living in our partner countries, including helping them to grow their own food and generate much-needed household income.

Since becoming Minister of State for International Development & Diaspora, I have been fortunate to see some of the positive impacts of Ireland’s work in several African countries. Our work in education has particularly struck me.

Last year, during a visit to a primary school in Karamoja, Uganda, I saw first-hand how our partners use Irish funding to support children to stay in school and receive a quality education. We have made great strides, but there is still much to do. Meeting with communities in some of the world’s poorest regions; mothers, farmers, and young people—also instilled in me the urgency with which we must now move to tackle issues like climate change, poverty and hunger.

In such challenging times, I am delighted to see Irish values of compassion, solidarity and friendship continue to shine brightly. With the support of the Irish public, these values will continue to be put into action to support development programmes that help change lives around the world.

We have come a long way; Ireland’s ODA is now at its highest ever level and is a key contributor to our ability to influence what matters to us – at the EU, the UN, the OECD and beyond. Our aid programme provides Ireland with a significant global presence and footprint – including in fragile countries, small island developing states, and conflict-affected contexts.

Today, the Irish international NGO sector has significant domestic support and has an excellent international reputation for the quality and integrity of its work. That is why Ireland is amongst those donors which provide the highest proportion of aid, to and through civil society organisations.

I would like to take this opportunity to remember all those who have risen to the challenges of delivering for the furthest

Photo Credit: DFA

A message from Seán Fleming, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora to mark 50th Anniversary of Dóchas

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, becomes the first Western Head of State to visit famine-hit Somalia in 1992. Her visit raises the international profile of the crisis and attracts enormous attention.

Public Sector Magazine

COLLECTIVE RESPONSE Irish Aid works closely with Dóchas and its membership to jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change, conflict and hunger.

Pictured here are the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, along with the Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming TD, with Dóchas and the CEOs of Irish international NGOs.

Working together, we can tackle climate change, end hunger and strengthen people's rights.

That is why in 2024 Ireland will invest a record €1.2bn in delivering life-changing support to those left furthest behind around the world.

Together, we can build a better world.

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Public Sector Magazine

Building Sustainable Community Jenny Williams, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Ireland, shares insight into the charity’s work to bridge divides, unite communities and deliver on its vision of a world where everybody has a decent place to live.

Jenny Williams (far right) opening the first ReStore in the Republic of Ireland in Drogheda Home is the foundation for all else. Without a secure and decent home, children cannot achieve their full potential, young people cannot grasp opportunities, and adults cannot enjoy secure work. Without homes, there is no community.

Yet today, one in four people has no decent place to call home. Righting this imbalance has been the mission of Habitat for Humanity since its inception in Americus, Georgia. Since 1976, the charity has helped more than 59 million people around the world build or improve the place they call home.

Jenny Williams explains: “Bringing people together to effect change is at the heart of everything we do. Home has a powerful meaning for everybody and leaves a powerful legacy.

When you work together to build a home in a community, you get a real sense of why home is so important for all.”

Habitat for Humanity was launched in Northern Ireland in the early 1990s by Peter Farquharson and his wife, Jane McCarthy. Having seen the work in the US, the couple believed it would be a powerful way to break down the barriers dividing communities in the country.

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Habitat Ireland began its operation in Dublin in 2002.

Together, across Ireland, Habitat’s mission has called more than 40,000 people to action supporting communities here at home and around the world.

ReStore - A Social Enterprise Success Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore initiative operates on the simple model of taking donated DIY and home improvement materials and selling them to local communities 50-75% lower than the retail price.

The ReStore model creates a virtuous cycle, helping organisations meet sustainability goals by reusing their endof-line or surplus materials to allow struggling local families to improve their homes.

Each ReStore creates opportunities for local communities to gain practical skills and experience through volunteering and increases employability and career choices with free OCNaccredited training. ReStores also deliver global citizenship and

Public Sector Magazine

“Bringing people together to effect change is at the heart of everything we do.

Home has a powerful meaning for everybody and leaves a powerful legacy. When you work together to build a home in a community, you get a real sense of why home is so important for all.”

Staff from FedEx gave their time to volunteer in ReStore Drogheda for the day

sustainability education to local children, engaging 1,541 young people across Ireland in 2023.

Jenny comments: “It’s so exciting because young people think about the sustainable development goals. They think about climate change and how they can be part of the transformation we must make.”

In 2023 alone, ReStores across Ireland helped 120,000 people access low-cost materials, diverted 2,500 tonnes of material from landfills, and supported 25 people into employment. An incredible 4,000 hours of volunteering every month demonstrate high community engagement.

Habitat for Humanity plans to add to its existing six ReStores: five in the north and one launched in Drogheda in 2022. A store in the northwest will open in late 2024, and three further stores in the south will be launched over the next three years.

House to Home Where ReStore supplies the materials and opportunities for local communities to help themselves, the House to Home program supports the most vulnerable through practical intervention.

Local support agency partners such as MACS, Depaul, and Women’s Refuge refer their clients to the House to Home program. The programme supervisor then assesses the client’s needs. This can include practical work such as decorating, light repairs, or supplying essential household items.

The process empowers vulnerable clients to choose their home improvement priorities, desired colours, and household items they need from their local ReStore. Volunteers support the work. House to Home also delivers ToolBox Basics Training to equip clients with the basic skills to look after their home, such as smoke alarm maintenance and isolating water.

During 2023, the House to Home program supported 147 people, delivered 67 practical interventions and provided essential furniture support for over 50 additional households.

How You Can Help Partnerships are the bedrock of Habitat for Humanity’s work. In addition to committed support from local people around each ReStore, long-standing partnerships with organisations such as Queen’s University Belfast and Sonas Bathrooms enable a consistent supply of reusable home improvement materials.

Habitat for Humanity welcomes new partnerships with organisations that wish to further their sustainability goals by donating surplus materials. With a focus on scaling up ReStore to other communities in Ireland, Habitat for Humanity would be very keen to work with organisations that might have empty sites suitable for a 10-15,000 sq ft ReStore. Contact info@habitatireland.org to discuss partnership and corporate volunteering opportunities.

Home Is The Heart Of Community People working together to create decent, secure, and comfortable homes are the glue that creates and binds communities, fostering greater understanding and acceptance.

Home is community. Jenny Williams sums up: “The poet Amanda Gorman said: ‘There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.’ Habitat for Humanity has always been a practical way for people to come together to do something hands-on to help their community through housing. I believe Habitat has something profound to say in a world that is more divided than ever.”

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UNICEF/Yemen, 2023/Alsunaidar

Public Sector Magazine

“UNICEF provided the panels, inverters, control devices, and the entire system,” explains Mohammed Hasan, head of maintenance at the water and sanitation department in the city of Dhamar, Yemen

Rewriting Children’s Futures In an increasingly volatile world, Yemen has dropped out of public awareness. Yet, Yemen is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. UNICEF is on the ground in Yemen, striving to secure the future for its children.

Nobody understands and can articulate the extraordinary challenges facing children in Yemen better than Peter Power, UNICEF’s Executive Director in Ireland: “UNICEF has been active in the country since the 1970s. Yemen has always ranked in the ten least developed countries in the world, and its political status and climate crisis are serious contributing factors to the catastrophic problems that its people are facing.”

A fragile stability that had been reached after decades of conflict came to an abrupt halt in 2015 when civil war broke out between Yemeni government forces and Houthi factions. Nine years later, the conflict has resulted in two-thirds of the population, 21.6 million people, in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Since 2015, 4.5 million Yemenis have

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Peter Power. Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland

been internally displaced, often multiple times. More than three-quarters of them are women and children. And it is these, the most vulnerable in Yemeni society, who experience the greatest suffering and despair.

UNICEF provides humanitarian aid and development on the ground before, during, and after crises. In response to the outbreak of hostilities in 2015, UNICEF rapidly scaled up its activity, and over 250 staff members are currently engaged in humanitarian work there.

This work is only possible with the generosity of the Irish public through voluntary contributions. A gift left to UNICEF in your Will is a remarkable way to help fund this crucial work and demonstrate your personal belief in helping future generations of children at risk worldwide.

Public Sector Magazine

More Children Die From Unsafe Water Than Bullets

Conflict decimates homes and destroys critical infrastructure.

Climate change greatly lowers the resilience of land and people and their ability to recover from the destruction wrought by conflict. Yemen is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and one of the least prepared for climate shocks.

In Yemen, over half a million people were displaced by environment disaster in the floods of September 2023 alone. The country was ill-equipped to deal with the crisis, forcing people to flee their homes. These changes in weather patterns have wiped out crops, reduced access to food and severely impacted agriculture.

The double whammy of conflict and climate has resulted in malnutrition rates among women and children in Yemen being one of the highest in the world. Over two million children under the age of five require treatment for acute malnutrition, along with over one million pregnant or breastfeeding women.

The latest data from the United Nations highlights that 27 per cent of Yemen’s population, including children, has no access to safe water. In a country where only 4 in 10 households have drinking water available within their homes, the heavy burden of collecting water for the family’s needs falls predominantly on women and girls.

“Water has been central to UNICEF’s work for over 80 years”, explains Peter Power. “In humanitarian crises UNICEF is the designated ‘Cluster Lead ‘ for the United Nations in relation to the provision of water. In Yemen that is a huge responsibility.“

Years of conflict in Yemen have destroyed basic infrastructure and left millions of people with no regular access to safe water. Nabil, Salma and their children are one such family.

Forced to flee when fighting reached their home in Taiz, the family went to Dhamar, where they experienced poor housing, no reliable work and a lack of regular food supplies and clean water.

They had no choice but to collect water for drinking and cooking from local trucks, water contaminated with cholera that nearly cost the life of their young son, Mohammed.

Nabil explains: “The war affected the community and the country as a whole. Because we are poor, it affected us the most.

We struggled a lot fetching water in long queues from water trucks, where I would queue in line with my wife and children to get 20 litres and sometimes 30, but not more.”

The United Nations General Assembly recognises that access to safe, acceptable, and affordable water is a human right and recommends between 50 and 100 litres per person per day for personal and domestic use. Nabil and his family did not have sufficient water and the water they could get proved unsafe.

“The water tasted strange. It didn’t affect us grown-ups but my child was affected as he was young. We felt like our boy was done.

We couldn’t let him sleep at the hospital because we couldn’t afford the inpatient department. So we got him intravenous fluid, syringes and medication, and we treated him at home as the doctor explained to us at the hospital that our boy had contracted cholera,” he says.

Nabil and his family were lucky. Mohammed survived, and thanks to the UNICEF-supported solar-powered water project in Dhamar, they now have access to clean, safe water.

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UNICEF/Yemen, 2023/Qadari

A Crisis Exacerbated By Climate Change

With running water now in his home, Nabil’s son, Mohammed drinks a glass of clean safe water. the Public Sector Magazine

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“When he got better, we were relieved as we saw our son well, and everything got better. Our lives improved significantly. Now, with this solar energy project, we live life conveniently. This water project provided clean water. It improved our lives, and our children are okay,” The solar-water project has secured clean water for 137,000 people, including schools, health centres, and vulnerable communities in the Dhamar region.

Building A Sustainable Water Supply In Yemen

Rewrite a child’s future

“Water has been central to UNICEF’s work for over 80 years, and we are the designated lead in humanitarian water provision.” Peter Power reveals.

He says: “We work at a high level with government, municipal and local authorities, lending our specialist technical assistance to those authorities to provide water to communities in a development context and build up water supplies.”

UNICEF is the global custodian for children in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of which seeks to provide children with access to safe, clean water within 30 minutes of their homes. The UN agency has decades of experience delivering sustainable water systems, including borehole drilling, aquifer identification, pumping, distribution, and piping. The UNICEF Office of Innovation in Copenhagen is playing a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of innovative solar-powered water solutions which are accessible and affordable. UNICEF, working with its partners, supports the training of local engineers and health workers to deliver Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes.

Mohammad Hasan, a young engineer, supervises the huge

with a legacy gift in your Will

solar-powered system at Dhamar to ensure his community gets clean water. He explains: “The project has greatly assisted in serving the people. It has introduced wells and now provides water for schools, hospitals, and citizens. The citizens previously had to endure long queues for water.”

“The benefits of this system are universal and extend to the entire population. A specific person or group does not own it; rather, it is a public service that benefits everyone,” he adds.

In Yemen, where boreholes are deep, generators are needed to pump the water. These traditionally run on diesel, which is increasingly expensive and unsustainable. Solar power is critical to the future water supply in Yemen. UNICEF has supported the country’s green transition by delivering 150 solar-powered water projects, supplying 2.5 million Yemenis with clean, regular water.

These solar-powered water projects have reduced fossil fuel consumption in Yemen’s water systems by up to 63 per cent in urban areas and between 80 and 100 per cent in rural areas.

Rewrite A Child’s Future With A Gift In Your Will UNICEF relies solely on voluntary contributions to fund its work in securing a safer, brighter future for the world’s children.

“By 2040, almost one in four children will live in areas of extremely high water risk. A gift in your Will can support UNICEF’s work to continue delivering safe water and other life-saving programmes so that every child like Mohammed has Two-year-old Nifal laughs at access to clean water.” the camera when we visited recently to see her family, who Peter Power. Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland: now has access to clean water.

Once you have taken care of your loved ones, please consider © UNICEF/Jordan 2024/Al-Safadi leaving a gift in your Will to help future generations of children.

Legacy Information Pack & Will Planner Complete the form below to receive a free, no-obligation legacy information pack which includes a Will Planner.

FREEPOST (no stamp required) to: Pauline Murphy, Legacy Gifts Manager, UNICEF Ireland, 33 Lower Ormond Quay, FREEPOST F407, Dublin 1, D01 R283

If you are meeting your solicitor to include a gift to UNICEF in your Will, the details you will need are as follows: UNICEF Ireland: Registered Charity Number: 20008727 Revenue Number: CHY NO. 5616 Registered Offices: 33 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

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Please would you contact me as I am interested in leaving a gift in my Will to UNICEF Ireland in support of their charitable work with children.

Name:

Address:

County: Eircode:

My Phone Number:

My Email: Pauline Legacy Giftsto Manager Please our don’t hesitate contact isus available to in talkconfidence. to you in to speak confidence and help you.

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Humanity in Conflict Climate change and conflict continue to drive humanitarian catastrophes affecting millions: Noreen Gumbo is the Director of Global Programmes in Trócaire I have worked my entire career, over thirty years, in the International Development sector and today it feels that the world faces greater challenges than ever before.

Climate change and conflict are two of the Noreen Gumbo, Director of Global Programmes, Trócaire greatest challenges facing people in almost all of the countries where Trócaire works.

The effects of climate change saw records broken in 2023 and not in a good way. It was the hottest year on record. Sea levels rose to a record high as a result of ocean warming and the melting of glaciers.

Extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and cyclones caused mayhem for millions of people all around the world.

One country hit badly was Malawi where Cyclone Freddy left more than one thousand people dead, half a million people homeless, and countless livelihoods shattered. Mary Peter (42) is one of those who is trying to pick up the pieces of her life in the aftermath of the terrible storm. “When the waters started rushing in, fearing for my children, I left everything behind and ran with the children to the nearby school. The water was up to knee level and the children were crying in fear. The rain continued for three days, and we stayed in the school as it was the only place for us to go. We ate raw maize for three days to survive,” she said. Mary Peter lost her home, her animals and her crops.

Trócaire worked alongside eight local partners to provide immediate relief to individuals and communities affected by the cyclone, and supported them on the long road to recovery of their homes, their farms and their livelihoods. “The support and encouragement we got from Trócaire through their partner CADECOM really did mean a lot and gave us hope,” Mary Peter said.

Malawi is just one example of how climate change is impacting people globally. Climate change affects everyone but not equally.

It is a crisis of inequality. Countries in the global south that have contributed least to the carbon emissions underlying the crisis are facing its worst consequences. Trócaire is not only working to support people to combat climate change and adapt to new realities, but we are also urging politicians and decision makers in Ireland and the EU to take urgent action to reduce emissions at home and to commit their fair share of resources to assist other countries.

Conflict is the second major issue impacting many communities where Trócaire works. Conflict disrupts everything and communities caught up in it suffer not only violence but

Mary Peter lost her home, animals and crops when Cyclone Freddy tore through Malawi in 2023. Photo: Muiru Mbuthia displacement and psychosocial impacts. They lose their livelihoods, their access to healthcare, their churches, and schools.

Violence increased significantly in Ethiopia, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine and, of course, Gaza in 2023. A rise in geopolitical competition has fuelled conflict in many countries with great powers competing for influence and supplying troops and weapons to countries at war.

When conflict erupts, Trócaire’s work and that of our local partners is severely hampered. Assets are destroyed, humanitarian need increases and women, men and children have to flee their homes in search of safety. The horrendous ongoing situation in Gaza is very much on all our minds at the moment. Trócaire’s local partners in Gaza have lost staff members and have seen their homes and offices destroyed but continue to do what they can for those around them.

In Myanmar almost 2.6 million people have had to flee their homes since a military coup in 2021. Many people have had to take refuge in the forests in their search for safety. Trócaire and our 25 local partners are operating in a complex environment to support 62,000 people with humanitarian assistance. In 2023, conflict in Sudan had a devastating impact on the civilian population across the country. Sudan is on the brink of famine with more than 18 million people facing starvation and millions of people forced to flee their homes. The Nuba Mountains, where Trócaire supports to deliver primary health care, has seen an influx of almost 600,000 people over the past year from other areas of Sudan, stretching the limited resources to a maximum.

Operating in conflict has many implications for the wellbeing and security of Trócaire and local partners’ staff that must be carefully considered. But the support of the public in Ireland provides Trócaire with great motivation to continue even where the challenges are great. We will always be grateful to our supporters for the kindness and humanity they show. Our work is only possible because our supporters drive us forward every day.

To find out more about Trócaire’s work visit www.trocaire.org

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Teacher Recruitment and Retention Crisis Funding deficits and teacher recruitment challenges in Irish schools

The Irish education system is currently grappling with significant financial and staffing challenges. Schools are facing rising operational costs and insufficient state funding, leading to budget deficits and reliance on fundraising. Concurrently, there is also a pressing teacher recruitment and retention crisis affecting the quality of education.

A recent survey conducted by the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA) highlights the severe financial challenges faced by primary schools. The survey, which included responses from 1,440 schools (approximately 50% of all Catholic primary schools), revealed that seven out of ten primary schools have operated at a deficit at some stage over the past year. These deficits have forced schools to deplete their cash reserves to cover day-to-day costs due to inadequate core funding from the state.

The CPSMA survey indicates that operational costs have significantly increased over the past two years and heating costs has by 37% while electricity and insurance costs have risen by 35% and 19% respectively.

More than half of the surveyed schools had to resort to fundraising to pay for basic utilities. Additionally, 20% of schools reported increased transportation costs, impacting educational experiences for students. Schools also faced rising costs in classroom resources, stationery, and photocopying, with more than one in five schools reporting price hikes in these areas. Cleaning costs have also surged, with 21% of schools noting increased expenses for cleaning materials and contract cleaners since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey also highlighted significant financial issues related to the ancillary grant provided by the state, used to pay staff such as caretakers, secretaries, and cleaners. Nearly three-quarters of the schools reported insufficient funds to pay their ancillary staff, with an average deficit of €7,166. The lack of clarity on

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grant payments has added to the financial stress, with principals expressing burnout and dissatisfaction due to these constraints.

Seamus Mulconry, General Secretary of the CPSMA, has called for more financial support in Budget 2025, emphasising the need for an immediate cash injection or a solid reassurance of sufficient funds for the next school year. The Department of Education has pointed to additional funding provided in recent budgets, including a €21 million permanent increase in capitation funding and an additional €60 million in the current budget. However, schools argue that these measures are insufficient to meet rising costs.

Meanwhile, a further survey by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has revealed that nearly 90% of schools are experiencing recruitment issues, with many secondary schools forced to drop or limit access to key subjects such as maths, Irish, and science disciplines. The survey of 736 TUI members highlighted that only 35% of recently appointed teachers received contracts with full hours, and just 12% were offered permanent positions upon appointment.

The teacher recruitment and retention crisis in Ireland is driven by several key factors. Firstly, many new teachers are not offered full-time or permanent positions, leading to job insecurity and financial instability. This precarious employment situation discourages potential candidates from entering the profession and motivates current teachers to seek more stable opportunities elsewhere. The lack of guaranteed, permanent contracts upon initial appointment exacerbates the issue, as teachers struggle to build a secure career path within the Irish education system.

Secondly, there is a significant lure of overseas opportunities. More than half of the teachers with less than ten years of experience consider moving abroad for better career prospects, driven by disillusionment with their current

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roles, the opportunity to save money, and Ireland’s ongoing accommodation crisis. The promise of more attractive conditions abroad, such as higher salaries and better living standards, entices many qualified teachers to leave the country, further depleting the domestic teaching workforce.

Additionally, the reduction in posts of responsibility, which provide essential support and avenues for career progression, has not been fully restored since the last recession. These roles are crucial for both the effective management of schools and the professional development of teachers. The insufficient number of such posts leaves teachers with limited career advancement opportunities, contributing to dissatisfaction and prompting them to leave the profession or seek positions in other sectors. Without addressing these structural issues, the teacher recruitment and retention crisis in Ireland is likely to persist.

The TUI survey also highlighted the burden of bureaucratic duties on teachers, with 92% agreeing that such tasks regularly detract from their core teaching responsibilities. This administrative overload contributes to demoralization and attrition within the profession.

To address the teacher recruitment and retention crisis in Ireland, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has proposed several critical measures. Foremost among these is the need to offer full-time jobs upon initial appointment. Providing job security from the outset would make the teaching profession more attractive and ensure that new teachers can build stable careers. This step is essential in retaining talent within the Irish education system and preventing the flight of qualified teachers to other sectors or countries.

Additionally, the TUI advocates for the reinstatement of allowances that were cut during the last recession. These allowances are crucial for making teaching financially viable and competitive with other professions. Recognizing overseas teaching experience is another vital recommendation. By acknowledging and valuing the professional experience gained abroad, Ireland can attract back its expatriate teachers and make the profession more appealing to those considering international opportunities.

Lastly, the TUI emphasizes the importance of enhancing career opportunities and reinstating posts of responsibility.

These positions are pivotal for school management and provide essential pathways for professional growth. Increasing the availability of such roles would not only improve the operational efficiency of schools but also offer teachers the career progression opportunities they need to remain motivated and committed to the profession. Implementing these measures would significantly strengthen the recruitment and retention of teachers in Ireland, ensuring a robust and resilient education system The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) is voicing similar concerns, noting that many teaching positions remain unfilled, exacerbating the crisis. The ASTI advocates for a return to a one-year postgraduate qualification for teachers and recognition of overseas teaching experience. Despite numerous measures by the Department of Education, the crisis persists, with a significant need for more effective solutions.

Kieran Christie, ASTI General Secretary, described the refusal of the Minister for Education to seek the necessary funds to address the problems associated with incremental credit for some teachers returning to Irish schools as an abject failure.

“Her determination to maintain the extraordinary casualisation of teachers’ employment status in their early years coupled with an

excessive length of pre-teacher training for graduates demonstrates a Minister with neither the political will or wherewithal to properly tackle the problem,” he said.

“What is required is the Minister to change her course and take meaningful measures that will restore and enhance the attractiveness of teaching as a profession in Ireland”.

“The Minister, by seeking to lure teachers to return from other countries on the promise of part-time or fixed-term positions and to be placed on the first point of the teachers’ incremental pay scale, is failing the schools and the students in our schools. This must change whereby, subject to satisfactory probation, permanent appointments are made available and successful applicants are placed on a point on the teachers’ pay scale that properly reflects their experience.

“The impacts of this situation remain very real. Schools continue to be forced to reassign Special Education Needs teachers to mainstream classes. Almost a fifth of schools have been forced to remove a subject/subjects from the curriculum.

“The minimalist approach to the problem must stop.”

Irish schools are facing dual crises of funding deficits and teacher recruitment challenges. Rising operational costs and inadequate state funding have left schools struggling to cover basic expenses, while the teacher supply crisis threatens the quality of education. Immediate and sustained financial support, alongside strategic measures to improve teacher recruitment and retention, are essential to stabilize the education system and ensure that schools can continue to provide high-quality education to all students.

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Marketing and Communications Solutions The Public Sector Marketing Institute provides specialist digital marketing and communications services to government and public sector agencies ensuring their digital footprint is trusted, engaging and accessible.

Under the guidance of founder and CEO Joanne Sweeney, the Public Sector Marketing Institute has achieved remarkable growth over the past three years, with a 15% year-on-year increase. Joanne attributes this success to the introduction of new accredited online courses and the expansion of services offered to clients. “The company has fostered numerous longterm working relationships, with clients valuing the Institute’s ability to integrate seamlessly as an extension of their in-house communications teams,” she notes.

A significant challenge for the company has been scalability and expansion into new markets. The introduction of on-demand accredited courses has been instrumental in addressing this challenge. The recent relaunch of a new website, along with the introduction of a new e-commerce e-learning academy, further supports the company’s growth ambitions. The company is developing an accredited Professional Diploma in AI for Public Sector Marketing, with twelve public sector professionals participating in a Beta course to test the programme. Recognising the transformative impact of AI on the sector, the Institute is committed to staying ahead of the curve.

The trust clients have in the Public Sector Marketing Institute stems from its educational and value-driven approach. The company offers free monthly educational webinars, attracting over 200 attendees, and hosts a weekly podcast, The Public Sector Marketing Show, which addresses key marketing and communications challenges, providing solutions and insights. These content marketing strategies underpin their ‘lead with value’ philosophy, helping to attract and retain clients.

Specialising in government and public sector digital communications, the Public Sector Marketing Institute has positioned itself as a sectoral expert. Its leadership is evidenced by the authorship of three books on the topic and continuous industry research. Its approachable, solutions-based, and responsive approach ensures the Institute can adeptly address client challenges as they arise, without fixed thinking.

The Public Sector Marketing Institute offers free 30-minute consultation calls with CEO Joanne Sweeney, allowing public sector professionals to discuss challenges or brainstorm ideas. “Regular industry research and monthly webinars provide valuable insights, further enhancing their

Founder and CEO Joanne Sweeney service offerings,” Joanne notes. “Additionally, we host the Public Sector Digital Marketing Summit and Seminars, which are instrumental in gathering industry insights.”

Joanne highlights that the company prides itself on its long-term team members, who possess highly specialised skills. “With a non-hierarchical structure, the team works cohesively, motivated by client success and the delivery of quality work. This supportive environment ensures excellence in service delivery,” she adds.

The Public Sector Marketing Institute’s award-winning podcast, global-selling authorship, and international speaking engagements underscore its commitment to excellence. Its philosophy of going the extra mile ensures that clients return, confident in the knowledge that they are receiving unparalleled service.

The company recently received an Excellence in Public Sector Digital Support Services Award, an accolade of which the team is very proud. Joanne remarked: “To be recognised by our peers in this way highlights our exceptional digital marketing and communications services and underscores our commitment to ensuring that the digital footprints of our clients are trusted, engaging, and accessible.”

The team’s dedication to excellence and client success is evident, and their innovative approach sets new standards in the industry.

Visit www.publicsectormarketingpros.com

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Innovation in training IACT was founded over 30 years ago to help realise the promise of technology to businesses and individuals across Ireland.

IACT started as a small team and has expanded to a large family of dedicated professionals, growing year on year. IACT prides itself on its innovative training methodologies and its ability to adapt swiftly to the ever-evolving market needs.

IACT has faced various challenges throughout its journey.

Recognising the need for adaptability and resilience, the team has often pivoted when the world changed. The result of one of these innovations was the creation of a virtual training environment called iLive Learning. This unique platform was meticulously designed to replicate as closely as possible the classroom experience, bringing it directly on to the screens of IACT learners. This transition wasn’t just about technology; it was about ensuring that the quality and effectiveness of training remained uncompromised. IACT’s proactive approach and commitment to its clients ensured that learning never stopped.

Keen to keep up in an ever-changing environment, IACT constantly invests in research and development, updating its training modules and embracing the latest technologies. Recently, IACT has incorporated AI and webinars into its training programs, allowing businesses to harness these powerful tools for growth and efficiency. These new offerings help clients stay ahead in a rapidly changing world by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage AI technologies effectively.

IACT stands out from the competition thanks to its awardwinning training programs, commitment to excellence, and personalised approach. The organisation doesn’t just offer training; it provides transformational experiences, from SharePoint and coding skills to Negotiation and GDPR compliance programmes.

The philosophy at IACT is simple: “customer first.” The team believes in building lasting relationships, understanding clients’ unique needs, and going the extra mile to ensure their satisfaction. Through regular feedback sessions, surveys, and open communication channels, the team at IACT stays connected with its clients. This helps tailor offerings and ensures that clients’ expectations are not only met but exceeded.

Staff form the backbone of IACT. The company invests in their growth, providing a nurturing environment, and recognising their achievements. Regular training, team-building activities, and a positive work culture keep the team motivated and committed. With a focus on building teams for businesses, IACT helps organisations develop cohesive, effective teams that can navigate the complexities of a changing world.

Since 2000, the company has worked closely with various government departments to deliver first-class training programmes across Ireland and we are delighted to have won this prestigious award for the second year in a row.

The team at IACT is excited about continuing to expand its training programmes to include the latest technologies such as AI and virtual reality to help clients embrace and empower their businesses. In-person Seminars and online webinars have also become a significant part of IACT’s offerings, providing accessible and flexible learning opportunities for clients worldwide.

IACT celebrated its 30th anniversary on 1st September 2023, marking a significant milestone for the business. As it looks to the future, the team is eager to continue working with clients in these exciting and transformative times for technology and humanity.

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Transforming Learner Experience Gerry Fahy, Managing Director of PAT Business School, is head of an organisation with a reputation for transforming learners’ skills and career prospects.

In a sector which is constantly changing the needs of employers and learners, the PATway is a blueprint for lifelong education.

The PAT Business School Story PAT (Professional Accredited Training) Business School was founded in 2017 in conjunction with the Irish Times Media Group, with Gerry Fahy appointed Managing Director in 2018, a position he has held ever since. With an original mission to address the skills shortage in the accounting and finance sector, PAT has matured to offer accredited courses in Fintech, Regtech, Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Finance, Financial Crime and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The courses validated by the Technological University Dublin, and the Compliance Institute are in addition to a suite of professionally validated finance programmes by the world’s largest accountancy body, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Gerry comes from a financial background himself, qualifying as an accountant in the 1990s and progressing his career through eight banks, including the Central Bank of Ireland, and gaining valuable domestic and international

experience over the years.

“I used to work in the bank during the day and teach at night. That sparked a passion that would become my career,” Gerry enthuses. He says, “I love to teach the way I’d love to have been taught myself, and that would be to the highest level of difficulty or the lowest level of understanding - because I was that person who found the accountancy exams difficult.”

It is this personal experience, both of being a student trying to navigate an educational style that didn’t suit his preferred way of learning and teaching in a way that chimed with his students, that has been the seed for PAT Business School’s success and what Gerry calls ‘the PATway’. The ethos is that PAT only succeeds if the learner does, and this commitment in the school’s core is augmented by offering a 100% pass guarantee that was the first to be offered by an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) approved provider in Ireland.

PAT Business School has a well-deserved reputation for quality, reliability and integrity, values that sit at its heart and drive its mission - ‘Knowledge, Skills and Choice’. Gerry digs a little deeper into the school’s mission, “The role of higher education is to impart the subject knowledge, promote the ability to think independently and the curiosity to question in

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PAT Business

the application of that teaching. Our role is to work with this cohort of graduates to develop further the skills that make them employment-ready in the accounting and Fintech sectors through professional and post-graduate qualifications.”

“What PAT Business School does is take that knowledge to the next level, a professional qualification in accountancy that is Level Nine on the National Framework of Qualifications, and we augment that in our Skills Academy with both the soft skills that employers now demand, such as effective communication and presentation, along with practical skills including SAGE Business Cloud Accounting and Excel training.”

Complementing university education with professional qualifications and employment skills leads to the final word of the mission statement: choice.

In the competitive market of finance and accountancy, employers increasingly want applicants who are well-rounded with the knowledge, qualifications and skills that will enable them to hit the ground running and bring a return on the hiring investment quickly. With dozens of similar applications from graduates, Gerry believes these additional practical and soft skills give PAT Business School graduates a competitive edge in the jobs market.

Gerry is keen to stress that PAT Business School is not in competition with universities, “We complement the excellence of higher education. We take their best and brightest talent and elevate them to the next level of professional self-development.”

35-37; Gerry reports that the school has learners from more than 30 countries with a gender split of 72% female.

Whilst the government’s educational funding incentives have changed the demographic of students over the years, COVID-19 was the catalyst for change in the delivery of education and training.

During the lockdown years, the education sector continued functioning by moving everything to the Internet, where students could continue learning from home.

Importance of establishing PAT Fintech Business School in a post-Brexit environment Setting up a Fintech Business School in Ireland following Brexit was a strategic move by Gerry in 2019 to leverage Ireland’s new status as a key EU financial hub.

Many financial services firms relocated from the UK to Ireland to maintain access to the EU market. This influx has positioned Ireland as a crucial financial centre. As Gerry says, ‘the objective of PAT Fintech Business School was to provide the necessary education and training to support this growth, ensuring a skilled workforce adept in fintech innovations and EU regulatory compliance’.

Headed up by Andrew Quinn, Director and Head of Financial Services, the objective of PAT Fintech Business School was and is to equip professionals with skills in innovative financial technologies and regulatory compliance within the EU framework. The development of an industry focussed, professionally recognised and University validated curricula was a major advancement through the school’s collaboration with The Compliance Institute, Technological University Dublin and the Higher Education Authority. The work ready, accredited skills-based programs are delivered by industry practitioners thus ensuring a richness of learning outcomes.

By offering world-class education and training, PAT Fintech Business School has subsequently gone onto develop an expertise in emerging financial technologies such as Anti Money Laundering, Regtech, Fintech, cybersecurity which addresses DORA, AI Governance, and Risk & Compliance for Digital Assets.

In summary, the establishment of PAT Fintech Business School in Ireland post-Brexit was positioned to contribute towards the country’s position as a key EU financial hub.

Through university, industry, professional body collaboration and Government focused support through the Springboard+ and Human Capital funded initiatives the School has increased the supply of skilled Fintech graduates. Its curriculum addresses the need for specialized knowledge in EU regulations, fosters local and international talent, through innovation, and provides a vital investment in the future of Ireland’s fintech sector and overall economy.

Andrew concludes that the purpose of education and accredited skills based learning is to raise standards and be a transformative force of change - ‘we focus on where there are talent shortages and where our learners will become more sought-after professionals. Our programs are designed to give

School has a

well-deserved

reputation for

quality, reliability and integrity,

values that sit

at its heart and

drive its mission -

‘Knowledge, Skills and Choice’.

The Changing Face Of Education The adult education landscape has changed in Ireland since the government created the National Training Fund (NTF) in 2000 to support the training of those in employment and those seeking employment, as well as funding research on existing and likely future skills requirements in the country. The NTF gets financed via a 1% levy on employers on the reckonable earnings of relevant employees.

The NTF represents a tangible investment by employers into the professional development of their staff, cementing the habit of life-long learning that, in turn, benefits the employer by creating a workforce that continuously improves its skills and the company’s productivity and value.

Springboard+, a scheme launched in 2011 as part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative, provides funded and heavily subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need, including the finance sector. Initially created to aid those out of work, the scope has widened to encompass the unemployed, in employment or returning to employment.

These funding initiatives have changed the demographic of students considerably, from school and university leavers as the stereotypical profile to adult learners from diverse backgrounds, nations, and ethnicities. The average age of a PAT student is

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Beyond utilising cutting-edge technology to deliver education, testing and examinations, PAT instils its learners with what Gerry terms a ‘mind the gap’ spirit. He explains, “Mind the gap is whereby you make sure that the talent keeps in touch with the technology and is not afraid, but embraces, technological developments that can lead to greater career enhancement.” He acknowledges, “The challenge for industry, educators and training providers is to ensure that people have the competency skill set to embrace technological change.”

PAT Business School’s embracing of technology and instilling a positive mindset about technological change in its learners has proven very successful, both for the school and the students.

A Record of Achievement

our graduates all the building blocks to be immediately more valuable to employers and hiring managers alike’.

The Evolution Of Edtech PAT Business School has a history of embracing technological advances. Gerry explains, “We are not a training company. We are a technology company that does very high-end training.”

When the Irish government announced the first lockdown in early 2020, the school already had a sophisticated Edtech platform, enabling a seamless transfer of all face-to-face classes, operations, and IT online without disrupting learners. The PAT Edtech platform enhances learners’ experience, optimises processes and drives efficiencies.

Less mature online learning platforms require students to undertake exams at a physical location due to a lack of oversight in online testing environments, resulting in the inability to ensure the integrity and security of the exam process. PAT’s digital assessment and testing platform was developed specifically to meet the rigour required to conduct examinations in an online environment. The school leverages the latest technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to proctor exams. Security measures include biometric verification, identification of algorithm search abandonment (giving up on a search query before the results are displayed), browser lockdown and AI behaviour recognition that detects cheating if the student displays eye, head, or keystroke movement outside the accepted norm.

The innovative Edtech platform, coupled with a passionate teaching style, resulted in PAT becoming one of the first universities, colleges, or business schools in the ACCA global ecosystem to achieve a triple Platinum rating for face-to-face, online and blended educational delivery. This recognition of the highest quality of learning provision for ACCA students at PAT Business School cements its reputation in the Fintech education and training sector.

In addition, the school can boast of winning the Irish Accountancy Awards, Excellence in Education and Training category for 2023. The awards are complemented by the extraordinary pass rates PAT Business School students attain.

The ACCA Diploma in International Financial Reporting (DipIFR) is a demanding course culminating in a three-hour examination with a global pass rate of 45%. However, PAT Business School students of the DipIFR have an astounding pass rate of 84%, nearly double that of the global pass rates, and it is these results that have direct and positive outcomes on the lives and careers of students that attract an increasing number of learners to PAT each year.

As well as leading pass rate percentages, the achievements of individual students echo that PAT is a leader in its educational field. Two examples of successful PAT students are Carol Guimaraes, a student from Brazil who placed 1st in the world in the ACCA Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) exam in December 2020 and Seenyeong, who achieved the top mark in South Africa for the ACCA AAA exam during the December 2023 exam session. PAT learners regularly gain high placement in the Irish and worldwide ACCA rankings.

Gerry and the staff of PAT are grounded in the commitment to deliver the training and skills that translate to graduates of the school being highly employable and massively valuable assets to potential employers.

Stakeholders In Success A key to the success of the school and its graduates is keeping up with change by maintaining diverse stakeholders ranging from Irish Government agencies, the European Union, global professional bodies, university partners, multinational companies and financial institutions to SMEs. Each stakeholder offers a unique perspective that allows PAT Business School to remain flexible and meet the changing needs of students and employers. The school engages in periodic

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market research, product and service A Culture of Excellence development and employer engagement Perhaps some of the most valuable to enable continuous measurement and stakeholders in PAT Business School evaluation of its operational performance. are the lecturers; as Gerry alluded to in Gerry emphasises, “The challenge for his educational history, the difference educators is to stay abreast of emerging between a student’s success and failure developments, and a significant amount often comes down to the quality of the of research is crucial to achieve that.” He teaching they receive and the ability for shares his mantra in this area, “Change is the educator to impart knowledge with constant, and it is vital to embrace change both passion and clarity. for growth and opportunity”.

“We recruit staff who have a likeBeing an education institution minded disposition and share our values. based in Ireland carries a geographical We hire for attitude, and we train for advantage since Gerry and his staff skill.” Gerry explains. He selects lecturers can communicate with partners and who exhibit the right motivation and are stakeholders in the UK and Europe, the inspired by how enhanced teaching can Middle East, Africa, or the US on the elevate a learner’s career prospects. On same working day. This position at the the art of lecturing, he expands, “You do hub of Europe has allowed PAT Business Gerry Fahy, Managing Director of PAT Business School it because you truly believe that what School to explore a range of international you do is to be a transformational force of partnerships in addition to its domestic change in the life of the learner, that can ones. enhance them as people and as citizens One such international partnership in an economy where they can, in turn, in 2023 has been the historic signing of a because of those acquired skills, pay back Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that investment to society.” between the ACCA Middle East and PAT Gerry has a student-centric outlook Business School, in strategic partnership with that permeates through to every lecturer ACCA Ireland and the Technical University and every aspect of PAT Business School.

Dublin, to deliver a tailored accredited AntiHe recognises that today’s learner has Money Laundering and Financial Crime multiple competing demands on their programme in the UAE, UK and the EU. time and are invariably time-poor. PAT Another Middle Eastern partnership Business School’s innovative teaching, this year is between PAT and the United learning, assessment, testing, and Arab Emirates University on the joint feedback platform gamifies the students’ design and delivery of Fintech and learning experience, enthusing them, Regtech Executive Training programmes. and spurring them to achieve learning This strategic partnership aims to equip outcomes up to 30% to 40% higher than students with the skills and knowledge the standard global pass rate. necessary to navigate the Middle East’s Reflecting on PAT Business School’s rapidly evolving financial and regulatory history to date and what encapsulates landscape. its success, Gerry says, “While we In early 2023, the school appointed a think our company’s journey is unique, Brand Ambassador in the impressive form some common attributes that have of Leinster and Ireland national Rugby played a significant role in driving Union player Tadhg Furlong. Tadhg, who our achievements include innovative also happens to be a PAT Business School curriculum design through Technological graduate and ACCA finalist, says of the University Dublin, the Compliance Institute and the ACCA school, “I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. If you can underpinned by a student-centric approach, a talented and take someone like me and get me through exams with good experienced faculty and administrative team and a shared scores after being out of studying, out of the planning and the desire to be a force of transformative change in the lives of our headframe for learning, and get me through, then it’s a nolearners through continuous improvement.” brainer. I genuinely couldn’t speak highly enough about them The future for PAT Business School and its students in 2024 as a provider - and as people.” and beyond will continue to be one of skills and education The evident expertise of PAT has led to invitations to give delivery excellence, student success and embracing the changing a keynote speech at a Dubai conference on using technology needs of employers and learners by offering new learning in the fight against financial crime and to advise the Irish opportunities such as the Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in Government on the Irish Anti-Money Laundering Authority Professional Accountancy accredited by Technological University (AMLA) application.

Dublin which recently launched in March 2024.

PAT Business

School’s embracing of technology and instilling a positive

mindset about

technological change in its learners has proven very

successful, both for the school

and the students.

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Public Sector Magazine

Bridging the Cyberskills Gap Ireland’s cybersecurity sector faces a significant skills gap that has widespread implications for its economy and digital infrastructure. Despite the sector’s rapid growth, the shortage of skilled professionals is the most pressing challenge. This deficit threatens the progress of various sectors, including the public sector, which relies heavily on digitalisation.

Ireland’s cyber security sector is expanding rapidly, mirroring global trends. Currently, the sector employs over 7,300 professionals and is projected to grow to 17,000 jobs by 2030

Ireland’s cyber security sector is expanding rapidly, mirroring global trends. Currently, the sector employs over 7,300 professionals and is projected to grow to 17,000 jobs by 2030.

The industry includes over 170 dedicated cyber security companies and 470 related companies, generating €2.1 billion in revenue and contributing €1.1 billion to the Irish economy.

The median salary for a cyber security role in Ireland is €75,000, indicating the sector’s high value.

Additionally, indigenous Irish cyber security startups have attracted over €129 million in investments over the past five years.

However, a report by Cyber Ireland revealed that more than 60% of firms experience staff-related issues, including difficulties in sourcing suitable candidates and unaffordable salaries. Approximately 46% of security teams are understaffed, and 48% of firms have open or unfilled security roles, with nearly 20% of these positions remaining vacant for six months or longer. Many organisations, particularly SMEs and manufacturing companies, are unaware of their skills gaps.

Cyber security is often left to IT personnel, who may not have the expertise to adequately address these needs. This situation is exacerbated by the additional threats these companies face due to their operational technology systems.

The legislative landscape is also becoming increasingly complex, with an increasing swathe of both EU and Irish regulations which aim to protect against cyber threats. The

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is well-known for protecting personal data, with cyber awareness being crucial for compliance. Other regulations, like the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), are designed to enhance the resilience of financial institutions against digital threats.

Ensuring compliance with these regulations is essential but challenging without a robust cyber security skills base.

Cultivating a high-quality cyber skills base is crucial for multiple reasons. Firstly, it ensures the protection of digital assets and supports the digitalisation plans of various sectors, including the public sector. A strong cyber security workforce also makes Ireland an attractive destination for investment in technology and related sectors. In addition, as cyber threats become more sophisticated, a skilled workforce is essential to safeguard against these evolving risks and ensure business continuity.

According to industry experts, Ireland has the potential to position itself as a global leader in cyber security. With the sector expected to grow by 10% annually and create up to 10,000 new jobs by 2030, a sustained effort is required to bridge the skills gap. This includes ongoing investment in training, education, and professional development to ensure that the workforce remains adaptable and capable of addressing emerging threats.

A variety of training and education programs have been established in order to better to better address the skills gap and Cyber Ireland has mapped over 70 accredited courses.

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The National Cyber Security Strategy specialised courses and programs tailored 2019-2024 Mid-Term Review also outlined to the diverse requirements of both a number of new measures to develop individuals and businesses and aims to relevant cyber skills and support industry equip Irish enterprises with the knowledge growth, including the Cybersecurity Skills and skills required to fortify their digital Initiative (CSI) and the Cyber Security defences. The initiative emerged in Academy. response to the HEA Human Capital Institutions like Cork Institute of Initiative Pillar 3 (HCIP3) program, which Technology and Carlow Institute of seeks to foster innovation and agility in Technology offer specialised cybersecurity higher education while addressing the degrees, providing deep knowledge and urgent needs of industry. real-world skills. These programs prepare Dr. Donna O’Shea spearheaded the graduates to meet the challenges of the submission of the Cyber Skills project in rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. collaboration with Prof. Thomas Newe, Certifications are crucial for those University of Limerick (UL), and Dr. in the cybersecurity field and Ireland’s Anthony Keane, Technological University Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Programme of Dublin (TU Dublin). According to which was initiated in 2019 to provide O’Shea, the Cyber Skills initiative was practical training is on course to accept up conceived to provide adaptable, practical, Programmes such as the Cyber Skills to 150 apprentices annually by 2025. The industry-aligned education in response Ireland Initiative, spearheaded by Donna AMTCE’s upcoming Cyber Programme to the alarming shortage of cybersecurity O’Shea, chair of cybersecurity at MTU and focuses on training SOC Trainees to address professionals. a leader in cybersecurity research through cyber threats specific to manufacturing “Our mission and vision statement is to her work with the SFI research centres and SMEs, enhancing the cybersecurity build and improve cyber resilience through Confirm (smart manufacturing) and Connect workforce with localised expertise. education and skills,” she states. “We (Future Networks), involve collaboration Online courses have also gained recognise the need to respond more urgently with educational institutions to develop a sustainable talent pool. popularity as a flexible learning solution. to the needs of industry in a more agile and Platforms such as UCD Professional responsive manner. In doing so, we provide Academy offer programs catering to education for learners that is more aligned different professional levels, enabling to the actual job role they would like to individuals to advance their careers. For perform. This learning will include realistic instance, an IT Help Desk Technician virtualised laboratory exercises to provide can transition to a Junior Cybersecurity hands-on experiential, immersive learning Analyst role through these online experiences for learners on the partners offerings. Continuous learning is essential shared cyber-range facility. Cyber Skills also in cybersecurity due to the constantly facilitates the needs of modern ‘time poor’ evolving threat landscape. And upskilling learners who demand personalized and and staying updated with technological relevant content based on their individual changes are vital for maintaining robust needs.” defences against emerging threats.

The Cyber Skills initiative In addition, efforts to include more encompasses a variety of courses catering women in cybersecurity are underway, to diverse industry needs and aligned as women currently represent only 25% with the internationally recognised of the global cybersecurity workforce.

NIST NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Initiatives like the Women4Cyber Framework. “We provide eight pathways Foundation and CyberWayFinder aim to aligned with the NIST NICE framework, increase diversity, providing opportunities allowing individuals to design their own for underrepresented communities to educational journeys,” O’Shea explains. enter the field.

“Learners can choose from various The Irish government and private modules, crafting a curriculum that suits companies are working together to mitigate the cybersecurity their specific requirements.” skills deficit. Programmes such as the Cyber Skills Ireland The courses include pathways in secure network operations Initiative, spearheaded by Donna O’Shea, a leader in and specialised knowledge areas such as incident response, cybersecurity research through her work with the SFI research malware investigation, and penetration testing. Cyber centres Confirm (smart manufacturing) and Connect (Future Skills offerings include courses to enhance secure software Networks), involve collaboration with educational institutions development practices in Dublin’s thriving tech ecosystem and to develop a sustainable talent pool. operational technology security used in smart manufacturing.

Cyber Skills Ireland was established to address the critical “The biggest sector being targeted at the moment is need for cybersecurity education and training. It provides definitely smart manufacturing or OT environments,” O’Shea

Currently, the

chief cybersecurity threats are

driven by AI and state-sponsored activities and

businesses and individuals

must prepare for these evolving challenges.

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reveals. “These sectors are being targeted because they hold large amounts of legacy systems. They have also systems that have traditionally been air-gapped from the internet, but they’re now digitalised and very much connected through internet obtained through Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) technology.

“These industries are also very prone to extortion-based attacks because if there’s an attack it really impacts their ability to deliver the product. So, there’s actually a much greater willingness to pay in those types of industries and so that’s really one of our biggest target industries Institutions like Cork Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology offer specialised cybersecurity degrees, providing deep knowledge and real-world skills. at the moment. That’s where we see the majority of the attacks.”

Cyber Skills Ireland collaborates closely with a variety of threats. In addition, the cybersecurity landscape is constantly stakeholders, including companies within the industry itself, evolving, with new threats emerging regularly. that are developing products and services aimed at safeguarding Currently, the chief cybersecurity threats are driven by AI and key sectors, from the financial sector to pharmaceuticals state-sponsored activities and businesses and individuals must and agriculture. According to O’Shea, the focus on industry prepare for these evolving challenges. AI’s ability to simulate collaboration is essential and ensures that the courses offered are human behaviour poses a significant risk. It can create more aligned with industry trends and demands, effectively bridging convincing phishing attempts and malware, making it essential for the gap between academia and practical application. cybersecurity professionals to stay ahead of these advancements.

“The collaboration with industry is really important because The use of AI, including large language models like it informs the development of our courses and ensures they are ChatGPT, will significantly influence cybersecurity. However, relevant and responsive to real-world needs,” O’Shea emphasizes.

AI and machine learning are also increasingly used in “TU Dublin, UL and MTU, and each of our regions are unique cybersecurity to enhance threat detection and response times. and one of the ways that we keep in touch with industry needs State-sponsored cyberattacks targeting critical systems is by being in touch with our own regions and responding to and data are becoming more frequent and sophisticated and that at a national level. We also liaise closely with Cyber Ireland, Governments and organisations must be prepared to defend the national cybersecurity industry cluster organisation which against these coordinated attacks. Advanced threat detection represents the industry at national level, and it is an essential solutions like Extended Detection and Response (XDR) are instrument in understanding the needs of industry.” essential to counter these attacks effectively.

The growing sophistication of cyber threats poses a significant Meanwhile, ransomware attacks are growing in complexity challenge to businesses of all sizes. The emergence of highly and higher ransoms are being sought. Business Email targeted attacks, such as spear-phishing, often culminates in the Compromise (BEC) exploits email vulnerabilities to deceive installation of malware and subsequent ransomware attacks, employees and steal data. Implementing strong ransom illustrating the evolving tactics of cybercriminals. This growing response plans and maintaining vigilant email security are threat underscores the importance of remaining vigilant and essential strategies for businesses. staying ahead of the curve through proactive education and However, there are indications of growing awareness training, according to the Cyber Skills Ireland chief. of the threat posed by lax cyber security measures and in “There’s no doubt that cybersecurity criminals are becoming Dublin, spending on cybersecurity solutions reached $300m more sophisticated and they’re very aware of trends within last year, with 85% of companies increasing their security individual jurisdictions. They will be targeting people’s budgets. Phishing attempts highlight the need for substantial vulnerabilities and targeting them in a very specialised and investments in stronger defences. customised way,” O’Shea warns.

In addition, 69% of companies in Ireland now have cyber The rapid escalation of cyber-attacks in our digitised insurance, reflecting a growing awareness of cyber risks. world reinforces the demand for skilled cybersecurity However, over 60% of companies in Dublin still face operational professionals. Sophisticated cybercriminals are constantly disruptions exceeding a day during cyberattacks, emphasising evolving their tactics and present a significant challenge for the need for continued investment in cybersecurity. organisations across all sectors in safeguarding their sensitive Ireland’s multifaceted approach to addressing the data, intellectual property, and customer information against a cybersecurity skills gap, coupled with emerging threats and myriad of cyber threats. proactive government initiatives, positions the country to tackle Cyber threats are global, demanding international the evolving cyber landscape effectively. By addressing the cooperation and Ireland is working with global partners skills gap, adapting to technological changes, and implementing and international bodies to protect critical infrastructure and robust regulations, Ireland aims to safeguard its digital future industries and ensure a robust worldwide defence against cyber against evolving cyber threats.

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Rising To Ireland’s Cybersecurity Challenge With an unstable global geo-political landscape escalating the threat of cyber attacks on the public and private sector alike, Jacqueline Kehoe, Project Manager at Cyber Skills explores why cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and how public organisations can upskill their workforce to rise to the challenge.

Dr Tom Newe, University of Limerick, Jacqueline Kehoe, Cyber Skills MTU, Dr Anthony Keane ,TU Dublin and Dr Donna O’Shea MTU pictured at Cork City Gaol

As an IT industry veteran with 25 years as a software engineer and systems architect behind her, Jacqueline is acutely aware that Ireland faces the greatest cybersecurity challenge at a time when the skills gap in the sector has never been larger. Closing the gap requires education relevant to the role, that is practical and regularly updated. “You can’t learn once and forget about it,” she says. “And what you learn today, you should be able to apply tomorrow at work. Cyber Skills delivers the theory, plus the skills essential for the workplace.”

A student may therefore be taught risk management from a technical standpoint on a Cyber Skills programme but is also taught how to keep identifying risks and keep updated on

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constantly evolving threat vectors. Cyber Skills lecturers ensure the training and education remain relevant and needs-based by engaging in a constant feedback loop with industry directly, and the working professionals who make up the student body.

Jacqueline highlights, “We also greatly encourage peer-topeer learning. For instance, students from non-regulated sectors can take on learnings from those in highly regulated sectors like finance, where the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) has to be complied with, enabling them to create more secure processes in their organisations.” She adds, “Students coming on our courses have life experience and sharing that within the group enriches everyone’s learning.”

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Shared Responsibility and Closing the Cyber Skills Gap

Cyber Incident Response course whilst the Information Security Architecture and Security Architecture courses are aimed at senior technical staff. Junior to Pragmatically, legislatively and ethically, mid-level technical IT staff benefit from cybersecurity can now be considered a the practical skills taught in the Secure shared responsibility. With increasingly Network Services, Secure Network sophisticated attack vectors used by bad Systems, Log Files & Event Analysis actors, including the social engineering of courses. Technical software staff at junior an organisation’s staff, it is no longer the to middle levels have Secure Software case that the responsibility for keeping an Development, Security Assurance, organisation secure lies solely with the Practical Cryptography and Security Web person who has ‘IT’ in their job title.

Penetration Testing courses suitable for Ireland is facing a cybersecurity skills their roles. gap when the need for both professionals Developing and implementing in the field, and a more security-aware appropriate capabilities to identify, detect, workforce, is at its highest and continues and defend against a cybersecurity event to increase year-on-year. It is reported that is the focus of the Detect pillar. Under this it takes an average of six months to fill a thematic area, senior technical roles can Jacqueline Kehoe, Project Manager, Cyber Skills cybersecurity job vacancy in Ireland and focus on courses training in Vulnerability that the employment rate of cybersecurity Analysis, Penetration Testing, Evasion professionals stands at 100%. The cybersecurity industry is and Defense Analysis. Junior and mid-level IT roles are catered growing by 10% annually and an estimated 10,000 additional jobs for with a Log Files & Event Analysis course, which also covers will be needed in the sector by 2030 when it is thought that around criteria for the Respond pillar.

17,000 professionals will be working in the industry in Ireland.

The Respond pillar objective is to develop and implement It was this growing skills gap that was the catalyst for three appropriate activities, prioritised through the organisation’s risk of Ireland’s top universities, Munster Technological University management process, to take action to contain and minimise impacts (MTU), University of Limerick (UL) and Technological relating to a cybersecurity event. Senior technical staff benefit from University Dublin (TUD) to come together in 2020 to form the Evasion and Defense Analysis course in this theme. Those in Cyber Skills, a collaborative initiative to provide education and managerial roles can take up Cyber Incident Response, a course that training pathways to upskill workforces in cybersecurity. also covers the areas of concern for the Recover pillar.

Headed up by MTU’s Donna O’Shea as Chair of Applying Cyber Skills to Realistic Cybersecurity & Project Lead, Cyber Skills can boast 9 job Attack Scenarios in Real-World role-specific pathways and 27 micro-credential courses tailored Environments to an organisation’s needs. Funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) under their Human Capital Initiative (HCI) One of the key challenges to effective cybersecurity training has Pillar 3, the curriculum has been a collaborative creation by long been the inability of students to practice the skills they’ve academic and industry experts, aided by industry partners such acquired in real-world environments. It is not enough for a as Dell and Mastercard. cybersecurity professional to know what to do in theory, they Jacqueline Kehoe, who has held the post of Project Manager have to be able to apply that learning, potentially during times at Cyber Skills for 3 years explains, “The traditional route in the of high tension and frenetic activity amid a sudden cyberattack. industry is to do an IT degree, then a two-year Master’s, after Cybersecurity professionals need realistic data breach and which you have gained a load of cybersecurity skills. However, the cyberattack scenarios to practice, where they can make mistakes skills are not tailored to a specific job. At Cyber Skills, we design and learn to hone their skills without real-world consequences. our programmes and micro-credentials to specific roles and tasks.”

The workplace does not afford such opportunities, resulting in In addition to tailoring the courses to specific roles, they are the prospect of a cybersecurity professional without the necessary structured around the NIST Framework’s five pillars: Identify, practical skills to prevent attacks if and when they come.

Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.

Cyber Skills has a first-of-its-kind in Irish Higher Education, The objective of the Identify pillar is to understand a world-class secure interactive training environment called the structures, policies and processes required to manage a Cyber Range to overcome this challenge. The cloud-based cybersecurity risks to systems, assets, data and capabilities. sandbox environment simulates real-world situations and Those in senior technical or management roles can benefit from scenarios, allowing students to experience a threat in a controlled the Cybersecurity Risk Frameworks and Cybersecurity Law & setting, apply their learned theory, make mistakes, repeat and Regulations courses, whilst the Cybersecurity Standards & Risk learn. This innovative approach allows Cyber Skills students course is aimed at technical staff in mid-level roles. to become skilled across the cybersecurity spectrum including The Protect pillar is about developing and implementing infrastructure setup and security hardening, cybersecurity appropriate and proportionate cybersecurity measures to incident response, digital forensic investigation, application protect the organisation’s essential services and systems. security, attack detection, cyberattacks and cyber defence.

Under this theme, managers are encouraged to pursue the

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Cyber Skills has a first of its kind world class cloud based Cyber Range. It provides a secure, sandboxed area which simulates real-world fee scenarios where students can test their new skills.

The Cyber Range is also employed for demonstrations during lectures and to reinforce lecture content during labs and assignments. Using equipment and techniques similar to those encountered in their working lives, Cyber Skills students can experience the most realistic of scenarios on which to practice and keep ahead in an ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Cybercrime On the Increase Cybercrime is growing in the wake of the Ukraine war and increasing tensions around the globe, with both state-sponsored and criminal groups ready and able to exploit private enterprises and public sector organisations alike. It is estimated that cybercrime will carry a global cost of over 10 trillion US dollars by 2025. In Ireland, the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC) estimates an annual cost to the Irish economy of €630 million.

It is not just the cost of cybercrime that is increasing; the NCSC reports that incidents of cybercrime in Ireland rose by 66% in the past year and research by IT Governance highlights that, in the first two months of 2024 alone, there have been a staggering 2,080,728,379 known records breaches and 234 publicly disclosed incidents in public organisations worldwide.

As well as public organisations becoming a prime target for cybercriminals, critical sectors such as telecoms and healthcare are also increasingly a focus for bad actors.

Cybercrime is not just a concern for wealthy multinational corporations. “I think everybody is now a target and that’s the

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problem,” comments Jacqueline Kehoe. “No organisation is too small and with the move to the cloud, cybercrime is becoming more prevalent.” An example Jacqueline comes across when speaking to people working in the public and private sector is known as a ‘man in the middle attack’ where invoices sent to an organisation legitimately are intercepted by criminals who alter the banking details to snatch the payment when it’s made. It is a deceptively simple, but devastating attack since it hinges on an expected event. If Bob in the finance department is expecting to receive an invoice from Smith’s Cleaning for contracting services and receives that invoice for the expected amount, there could be a temptation not to apply the same level of scrutiny and checks that would be applied to an invoice received unexpectedly or from an unknown source.

The Changing Cybersecurity Legislative Landscape With cybercrime and the cost of cyberattacks spiralling, international bodies are increasingly looking to improve cybersecurity and resilience via legislation. The European Union’s Network and Information Security Directive second Directive (NIS 2) comes into effect in October 2024. Building on the foundations of the first Directive, NIS 2 is a legislative act aimed at achieving a high common level of cybersecurity across European Union member states.

The revised Directive has widened the scope of ‘essential’

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Public Sector

and ‘important’ sectors and entities needing to comply with the legislation, including public administration, water and waste management, postal services and research institutes. NIS 2 places a legal obligation on the management of these entities to approve the cybersecurity risk-management measures taken by their organisations and oversee their implementation. Failure to do so can potentially result in management being held personally liable for infringements.

The NIS 2 Directive also requires the management bodies of ‘essential’ and ‘important’ entities to undertake training to, “gain sufficient knowledge and skills to identify risks and assess cybersecurity risk management practices and their impact on the services provided by the entity”, in addition to offering similar training to staff regularly. Non-compliance with all mandatory aspects of the NIS 2 legislation carries heavy penalties that the NCSC has the remit to impose.

In addition, the Public Sector Cyber Security Baseline Standard (PSCSBS) developed by the NCSC as part of its National Cyber Security Strategy 2019-2024, outlines measures the public sector in Ireland needs to take to improve cybersecurity and resilience. The PSCSBS is based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cyber Security Framework, structuring its baseline standards around the five themes: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.

Jacqueline remarks, “The public sector is increasingly targeted and our Government and the EU acknowledge this with the NIS 2 Directive, which in its previous version only covered a small number of entities, but will now cover all of our public entities.”

The funding and training support extends beyond the Cyber Skills classroom, with Munster Technical University also providing cybersecurity support through the ENTIRE European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH). The non-profit initiative brings together the expertise of MTU along with Tyndall National Institute, South East Technological University (SETU), University College Cork (UCC), and Skillnet Ireland in a mission to help SMEs and public authorities in their digital transformation journey via the use of intelligent secure Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, software and networks and the brokering of technical, business, financial, investment and training support services.

The ENTIRE EDIH initiative allows Public Sector Bodies to fully discount the cost of courses such as ‘Navigating Cybersecurity for your Business’, or experience cyberattack simulations on Cyber Skills mobile or cloud-based Cyber Range that are completely tailored to the organisation and reflective of its operations, systems and the threat vectors likely to be used against it.

Bodies (PSBs) face cybersecurity

challenges that

the private sector may not, largely

due to a tendency for networks

and software to be older due to

existing budgetary constraints.

80% Subsidy Available for Courses Boosting Cyber Resilience Public Sector Bodies (PSBs) face cybersecurity challenges that the private sector may not, largely due to a tendency for networks and software to be older due to existing budgetary constraints. In addition, Public Sector Bodies often have numerous and complex systems, some of which may be integrated and some not, as well as large departmental structures that can add further cybersecurity complexity.

These challenges can deter investment in cybersecurity training beyond what is legislatively mandated however, the Government has taken the forward-thinking step of heavily funding training in their awareness of the growing need to upskill Ireland’s workforce in this area, attract more indigenous and external investment in the industry, and secure Ireland against the increasing threat of cybercrime.

Jaqueline reports, “All of our courses are 80% funded and qualify as micro-credentials ranging from 1 to 30 ECTS credits.

If previously a public body could fund training for one person, now they can send three people for the same amount.”

Creating A Cybersecurity Culture High-profile attacks, such as the ransomware attack on the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) in 2021, growing public awareness and increasing media focus on cybercrime have propelled cybersecurity to the forefront of minds. The increasingly unstable global geo-political landscape has heightened the awareness in bodies such as the EU and individual governments, that increasing cybersecurity skills and strengthening resilience against cyberattacks is a critical need that has to be legislated for and not something that can be left to chance.

This increased supranational focus augmented by legislation such as the NIS 2 Directive has created a cultural sea change from a ‘features first’ perspective to a ‘security first’ ethos.

Security by design is now a vital part of the development of any software or system and it is not something that can be added on as an afterthought.

Ireland must grow its indigenous cybersecurity industry and upskill its workers, particularly in technical fields, to protect against and manage cyber risks. In Public Sector Bodies there can be a temptation to hire external cybersecurity expertise however, the Cyber Skills model of education and training, backed up by strong funding incentives, introduces the attractive option to upskill existing employees whilst retaining the valuable in-role experience they have gained in their employment.

Jacqueline finishes her exploration of the cybersecurity landscape in Ireland today with a clarion call to her colleagues in Public Sector Bodies, “We invite you to get in touch to discuss how we can support your journey to becoming NIS 2 compliant and to play a part in enhancing the cybersecurity resilience of Ireland’s public sector.”

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The AI Revolution AI: Transforming the future of business and society in Ireland

A study by Implement Consulting Group, commissioned by Google Ireland, estimates that fully embracing generative AI could boost Ireland’s economy by €40-45bn over the next decade.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognised as a transformative force in shaping the future of business and society worldwide. With its ambitious National AI Strategy “AI – Here for Good” launched in July 2021, Ireland aims to ensure that AI’s benefits are maximised while potential risks are effectively managed and that the country positions itself as a global leader in the ethical and beneficial use of AI. AI is a key component of the broader suite of digital technologies expected to drive global competitiveness and productivity in the coming decades. Early adopters stand to gain significant social, economic, and strategic advantages. In Ireland, AI’s transformative potential is evident across various sectors.

AI is driving substantial economic growth by enhancing productivity and innovation across industries. The establishment of the AI Innovation Hub (CeADAR) is a significant step towards supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specialist training and project feasibility work. This initiative aims to ensure that businesses of all sizes can harness AI’s potential for increased efficiency and innovation.

The Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum, launched in May 2022, brings together industry experts, government representatives, and enterprises to discuss and promote AI adoption. This collaboration focuses on addressing the skills challenges posed by AI and exploring government support for digital transition in businesses.

By fostering a digitally inclusive society, Ireland aims to have 75% of Irish businesses using AI by 2030.

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AI and Society AI’s integration into society is equally transformative. Initiatives like the National Youth Assembly on AI, aim to educate young people about AI’s benefits and precautions. This focus on youth education ensures that future generations are well-prepared for an AI-driven world.

While AI offers numerous benefits, it also presents significant challenges and risks that require robust regulation and oversight.

Ensuring ethical and responsible AI use is paramount to building public trust and mitigating potential risks such as job displacement, privacy concerns, and bias in AI systems.

Ireland’s strategy includes creating a robust AI ecosystem through education, skills development, and secure infrastructure.

The Top Team on Standards for AI, led by the NSAI, collaborates with academia, industry, and regulators to develop a roadmap for AI standards. This ensures that Ireland remains at the forefront of AI standards development and adoption At the European level, Ireland collaborates on the development of the EU AI Act, a regulatory framework designed to govern AI use across different sectors. The objective is to create a horizontal framework that addresses AI’s complexity and nuances, ensuring effective governance and protection against potential harms.

Ireland’s commitment to ethical AI is further demonstrated by the publication of the NSAI’s AI Standards and Assurance Roadmap, which outlines standards for developing and

Public Sector Magazine

deploying trustworthy AI systems. These standards ensure that AI technologies align with ethical guidelines and societal values.

Meanwhile, the National AI strategy emphasises the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework. It is founded on three core principles: adopting a humancentric approach to AI application, staying open and adaptable to new innovations, and ensuring good governance. These principles guide the ethical use of AI and build public trust, essential for the successful integration of AI into society.

Ireland’s strategic approach to AI positions it as a leader in AI innovation.

The National AI Strategy is part of a broader suite of digital transformation policies, including the National Digital Strategy (February 2022), Connecting Government 2030 (the digital and ICT strategy for Ireland’s Public Service, March 2022), and the White Paper on Enterprise (December 2022). These policies collectively aim to create a supportive environment for AI adoption and innovation.

Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment on a series of engagements.

Her efforts focus on advocating for the ethical adoption of AI by enterprises, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and human-centric AI development.

Complementing Dr. Scanlon’s appointment, the government established the AI Advisory Council in order to provide independent, expert advice to the government on AI policy, with a strong focus on building public trust and promoting trustworthy, person-centered AI. It is charged with fulfilling two principal roles: offering expert guidance in response to specifiic government requests and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital developing its own work plan to address Transformation and Company Regulation broader AI policy issues. The council Dara Calleary said significant progress had members serve in a voluntary capacity been achieved in several key areas of the National AI Strategy “AI – Here for Good” and will meet at least three times a year to ensure continuous and relevant input.

The completion of the Expert Group on Future Skills Report, which addresses the essential skills required for AI adoption, thereby preparing the workforce for the future is another notable achievement.

The National Youth Assembly on AI has AI Progress Report also been a significant initiative, educating young people about the benefits and risks Speaking following the launch of progress associated with AI, thus fostering a wellreport on the National AI strategy earlier informed future generation. Furthermore, this year, Minister of State for Trade Ireland’s participation in the Global Promotion, Digital Transformation and Partnership on AI, an OECD initiative, Company Regulation Dara Calleary said demonstrates the country’s commitment significant progress had been achieved to collaborating on AI governance and in several key areas. In particular he standards on a global scale. appointment of Dr. Patricia Scanlon as Additionally, the AI Innovation Hub the AI Ambassador has been instrumental in driving public (CeADAR) has played a critical role in providing specialist engagement and education about AI while her efforts have been training and project feasibility support for SMEs, ensuring that complemented by the establishment of the Enterprise Digital smaller enterprises are not left behind in the AI revolution.

Advisory Forum, which aims to promote the adoption of AI and “Ireland was a frontrunner in publishing our National AI digital technologies within the industry.

Strategy, more than two years ago and we have made excellent Dr. Patricia Scanlon, founder and Executive Chairperson of progress so far in putting the building blocks in place to get the SoapBox Labs, brings a wealth of experience in AI, particularly coming transformation right,” Minister Calleary said. in developing voice and speech recognition applications Looking ahead, I want to ensure we maintain our strong for children. As AI Ambassador, Dr. Scanlon’s primary position and are ready for new challenges and opportunities as responsibility will be to lead a national dialogue on the role they emerge.” of AI in society. This involves engaging with businesses, “Changes to the world of work are to be expected, but it is likely schools, and institutions to communicate the benefits and risks that much of the disruption caused by AI will result in changes to job associated with AI technology. roles, tasks, and distribution, rather than actual job losses.

A significant aspect of Dr. Scanlon’s role will be her “My core priority is making sure that AI is fostered and involvement with young people. In collaboration with the deployed in a way that is safe and trustworthy.”

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Looking ahead, Minister Calleary said the priorities Youth, she will convene a National Youth Assembly on AI in will focus on further enhancing public understanding of AI, September 2022. This initiative aims to gauge young people’s supporting industry adoption through targeted initiatives, and attitudes towards AI, address their concerns, and promote continuing to develop a robust AI talent pipeline. By building careers in technology. on these achievements, Ireland aims to solidify its position as a Dr. Scanlon is also a member of the Enterprise Digital leader in ethical and innovative AI deployment, ensuring both Advisory Forum (EDAF), where she works closely with the economic growth and societal well-being.

The productivity gains from AI

could contribute up to 1.4% of

Ireland’s annual Gross Domestic

Product (GDP) at their peak.

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Public Services and AI

Ensuring ethical

implementation. This board will also explore new models for engaging with private and academic sector experts, such as establishing a Public Sector Fellowship, to bring cutting-edge knowledge and innovation into the public domain.

Finally, developing robust ethical frameworks and reforming data-sharing laws are crucial steps. These measures ensure that the use of AI aligns with ethical standards and legal requirements, promoting the responsible and transparent deployment of AI technologies in public services. By addressing ethical and legal considerations, the public sector can harness the benefits of AI while maintaining public confidence and trust.

The advent of AI presents both significant risks to employment and substantial economic benefits. This dual impact necessitates a nuanced understanding of AI’s implications and strategic responses to maximize benefits while mitigating adverse effects.

Recent government research titled ‘Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe’ highlights the potential displacement of jobs due to AI. Approximately 30% of Irish workers are in roles susceptible to automation by AI technologies. Sectors most at risk include financial services, insurance, and information and communication, where occupations such as laboratory technicians, accountants, and telephone salespeople face high exposure. Conversely, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors appear less vulnerable to AI disruption.

Women, disproportionately represented in administrative and customer service roles, face greater exposure to AI-induced job displacement compared to men, who are more likely to work in less exposed fields such as agriculture and construction.

This disparity underscores the need for targeted interventions to support affected demographics.

Despite the risks to employment, AI promises substantial economic benefits for Ireland. A study by Implement Consulting Group, commissioned by Google Ireland, estimates that fully embracing generative AI could boost Ireland’s economy by €40-45 billion over the next decade. AI is projected to enhance productivity in two-thirds of jobs, potentially benefiting 1.7 million roles. However, around 150,000 positions may experience significant disruption, necessitating reemployment and reskilling efforts.

The productivity gains from AI could contribute up to 1.4% of Ireland’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at their peak. Nevertheless, delays in adopting AI technologies could drastically reduce this potential growth, emphasizing the urgency for timely implementation.

AI presents both challenges and opportunities for Ireland.

By strategically addressing the risks and capitalising on the economic benefits, Ireland can position itself as a leader in AI innovation and ensure a prosperous future for its workforce and economy. The new EU AI Act provides a solid regulatory foundation to support these efforts, ensuring AI is developed and deployed in a manner that benefits society as a whole

and responsible AI

The integration of AI into public services is another critical area of focus for the government. On January 9, 2024, the government approved new guidelines for the use of AI in the public sector, aligning with the European AI Act. These guidelines emphasize compliance with seven key requirements for ethical AI, as outlined by the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI. These requirements include human agency and oversight, technical robustness and safety, privacy and data governance, transparency, diversity and fairness, societal and environmental well-being, and accountability.

To facilitate the ethical and effective deployment of AI, the government has developed interim guidelines through a cross-department working group on Trustworthy AI in the Public Service. These guidelines encourage risk assessments and outline necessary safeguards for AI tool adoption. Additionally, public service organizations have access to various supports, such as a direct drawdown procurement framework for robotic process automation (RPA), funding for AI projects through the Public Service Innovation Fund, and learning and development programs for public servants.

The successful integration of AI into public services necessitates a multifaceted and strategic approach. One critical strategy is innovative public procurement, which leverages the procurement process as a catalyst for AI innovation. This involves revising procurement procedures to support the acquisition and implementation of advanced AI technologies, thereby fostering an environment where AI can significantly enhance public administration and societal functions.

Investing in the continuous training and upskilling of civil servants is another essential strategy. As AI technologies evolve, it is crucial that public sector employees are well-equipped to work with these new tools effectively. This commitment to education ensures that civil servants remain proficient and capable of leveraging AI to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.

Collaboration plays a pivotal role in AI integration. By fostering partnerships between the public sector, private enterprises, and academic institutions, expertise and advancements in AI can be shared and maximized. This collaborative approach not only accelerates AI innovation but also ensures that a diverse range of perspectives contribute to the development and deployment of AI technologies.

Addressing regulatory frameworks is also vital.

Comprehensive legal structures must be developed to address gaps in areas such as policing, justice, health, and data protection. Establishing clear and robust regulations ensures that AI is implemented safely and responsibly, safeguarding public trust and upholding ethical standards.

The GovTech Delivery Board is tasked with leading AI adoption within public services, providing strategic leadership, and coordinating a service-wide approach to AI

use is paramount to building

public trust

and mitigating potential risks such as job

displacement,

privacy concerns, and bias in AI systems.

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Making it real: demystifying & fostering adoption of AI KPMG’s Cormac Deady, Head of Government; Alan Lavery, Director, Applied Intelligence - GenAI Lead, and Sean Redmond, Director, EU AI Hub discuss how organisations can best make AI work for them.

In the ever-evolving landscape of AI, the last 12 to 18 months have witnessed seismic shifts few of us could have imagined.

From generative AI to ethical governance, AI technologies continue to permeate every element of doing business in Ireland. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has emerged as a game changer across all sectors, promising to propel business outcomes. However, it has not arrived without concerns surrounding security and governance and the fear of widespread job automation.

The advent of GenAI can be compared to the early stages of the internet. Arriving with great excitement and promise that it could improve everyday life. The same can be said for

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GenAI at present. Although it’s not necessarily enabling us to do something new, it can help us to do things an awful lot better and more efficiently than we have been up until now. If we use it properly, that is.

Of course, AI has been around for quite a while and has typically been used for classification type tasks. It comes up with probabilistic answers to questions such as what kind of animal is portrayed in an image or if a scan is indicative of cancer. It has proven its capability for these kinds of use over a long period of time. Humans have always had the edge in creativity, so far at least. GenAI is not just classifying, however, it is generating new understanding and outputs which can

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Alan Lavery, Director, Applied Intelligence GenAI Lead

Cormac Deady, Head of Government

be unique. Most importantly, the outputs are expressed in language that feels like a human created it.

The pressure to adopt AI at pace The power of AI is creating enormous pressure on leaders to adopt the technology as quickly as possible. This pressure is understandable. The speed of movement at present means that those who do not consider and adopt AI in their organisations risk being surpassed by those who do.

This is not necessarily always the case, however, and AI adoption should be approached with an open mind but with clear eyes and a degree of caution and control. The best starting point is to look inside each organisation, at the challenges it faces, the problems it is trying to solve, and the changes it needs to make.

Quite often, when drilling down into some challenges it might emerge that these are best addressed through traditional data means (e.g. data engineering, data analytics, data management and governance, data quality control) and don’t necessarily require immediate AI adoption to solve them. And good data engineering, data management and data governance, still forms the basis of any trusted insight derived through AI. In this light, organisations need to ask what AI is and how they can make it work for them. They need to measure its impact and establish an informed business case for it in the same way as they would for any other investment.

Measurable positive impact is key They must also ensure they get value from the change they are implementing. Change for its own sake is a waste of time and resources, and change driven by pressure to use a new technology is worse than pointless. AI adoption must have measurable positive impacts. Always front of mind must be whether it is tackling the challenge or not.

The development of GenAI models has given life to the massively untapped potential held in unstructured data: files, documents, audio, video, and imagery. Learning from,

Sean Redmond, Director, EU AI Hub

accessing, querying, retrieving, and generating content based on this data is now delivering previously unobtainable and impactful insights straight to the hands of the user, at a pace that has never been felt before. They can examine vast volumes of policy documents, contracts, regulations, operating manuals, and other pieces of data and find previously undetected anomalies, areas of risk, trends, and omissions, and in turn generate recommended actions and responses.

There is every reason to be optimistic about the value that these models can bring to society and organisations. And while we cannot imagine what it might bring in the future, the approach should be to look at what organisations are already doing and how AI can help them do it better. This will create opportunities to learn with the technology and harnessed constructively.

Embracing the Technology – with human oversight At present, the principal role of GenAI is to augment and enhance human capabilities: it can surface better insights and help users get to the answer in seconds rather than days; it can carry out laborious tasks without ever getting bored or tired; it can help us to be more effective.

But the technology is continuing to advance rapidly, and we need to be open to both its current and potential capabilities.

By putting the correct governance and controls in place and beginning with low-risk test applications and building from there, organisations can adopt AI safely and obtain real benefits from it.

At KPMG, we are working with organisations to help them think through what AI means for them, develop strategies for its adoption, put governance and controls in place, scale solution sensibly, and ensure business leaders get real value from their investment. Whatever the goal is – more efficient operations, accelerated content generation, better engagement with citizens – our team of business and technology experts, supported by our AI Centre of Excellence in Belfast and our EU AI Hub in Dublin, help them decide if AI can help, and if it can, how to use it in the right way.

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The National Challenge Fund Stephen O’Driscoll, from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), spotlights the National Challenge Fund, a competition-based funding model enabling research teams to create tangible solutions to key problems in the areas of green transition and digital transformation.

Stephen O’Driscoll is the National Challenge Fund Manager, coordinating and administering the fund with the help of a talented and experienced team at SFI. He has been with SFI for over 10 years and has a deep background in science, engineering, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Stephen explains: “The National Challenge Fund is a challenge-based research programme with €65 million in funding available for researchers. It was established under the government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. We launched the programme in August of 2022 and received over 200 applications, there are currently 96 research teams active in the programme.”

He goes on to say: “The programme comprises eight separate challenges. Five are aligned with the green transition, and the remaining three are aligned with digital transformation. They cover a broad range of areas, from supporting Ireland to achieve its 2050 targets to developing and enabling sustainable food systems and communities.”

The eight challenges within the National Challenge Fund are: Future Food Systems, Sustainable Communities, Digital

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for Resilience, Energy Innovation, A Health Environment for All, OurTech, Future Digital and the 2050 Challenge.

Each challenge comprises four phases; Concept, Seed, Grow and Prize, with increased funding awarded to the teams that successfully progress through each phase. Having completed the initial Concept and Seed phases of the programme, approximately 33 teams will be selected over the coming months to progress as finalists to the year-long Grow phase. At the end of the Grow phase, eight overall winning teams will be granted significant Prize Awards of up to €2 million. The entire funding programme will conclude in 2027.

The journey from application through to the prize fund stage is designed to be rigorous. The initial applications were reviewed by an independent international panel of experts with expertise and experience aligned to each challenge.

Then, toward the end of each phase in a challenge, additional independent international experts conduct progress reviews of the competing teams’ work and recommend which teams should successfully pass to the next phase.

Stephen highlights that even before the application process begins, SFI puts a great deal of work into a challenge: “If we

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go right back to the start, there’s the process of identifying the challenges themselves. We undertook an in-depth review of European and national strategies to see what directions those were going in policy terms. In addition to that review, we applied our understanding of the capabilities of researchers in the Irish ecosystem, our experience managing a very extensive research portfolio, along with horizon scanning and stakeholder engagement.”

He continues: “That allowed us to define the challenges which set the direction for the teams. The teams then select which challenges to respond to and submit applications to us.”

Challenge-based Funding Model Science Foundation Ireland launched its first challenge fund, the Future Innovator Prize, in 2018 and currently has 11 challenge funds running, eight within the National Challenge Fund and three outside of that.

The challenge fund model is an exciting approach to fostering innovation through targeted research, and it has significant differences and benefits to more traditional methods of research funding, as Stephen explains: “What differentiates the challenge-based approach is that it directs research activities at specific problems using very different structures and timeframes, and we use prizes to incentivise competitive processes within challenges.”

This challenge-based model, along with its close relative mission-orientated research, is a highly successful method for tackling big problems that impact society and humankind. One of the core principles of the model is stakeholder engagement because, to solve big problems, participation from diverse stakeholders is critical. The process is designed to facilitate stakeholder engagement so that researchers can develop a much deeper understanding of the problem they’re trying to solve. That might mean that, as they go through the process and engage with stakeholders, their comprehension of the problem might change, leading them to change the solution they are developing. The traditional idea of research teams working away on problems in academic isolation is turned on its head. Stephen notes: “It is quite a different process, much more engaged with the end users of research than other types of programmes, and very focused on delivery rather than conducting research on a topic for the generation of knowledge alone.”

Another benefit of the model and this close stakeholder engagement is that it mitigates the risk of research not resulting in tangible outcomes. As research teams work with stakeholders, trust is built, and there’s a greater sense of whether the solutions being worked on will be impactful,

The National Challenge Fund is a challenge-based research programme with €65 million in funding available for researchers.

It was established under the government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. meaningful, sustainable, and in line with stakeholder expectations.

Of course, the challenge-based model is not without its own challenges. Many researchers will be accustomed to more traditional research funding, with different approaches to progress review or deep stakeholder engagement. The challenge model has assessments at the end of each phase that inform whether a team should progress along with strong encouragement to engage with stakeholders. This completely novel approach means it can be difficult for some research teams, for whom the model is new, to get up to speed with the process.

Training and Mentoring Since challenge funding is an innovative and different approach, research teams receive significant support through training and mentoring to navigate the process successfully, produce the best outcomes, and develop their skills personally.

Stephen explains: “We provide researchers with extensive support and skills development. The training that we provide teams with centres on four areas initially. Firstly, there’s Theory of Change, which is about figuring out what you need to change and how you know you’re successful. Another is Design Thinking. That’s

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very much around engaging with stakeholders, analysing their needs, and then developing solutions that address those needs. There’s also Evidence-based Entrepreneurship, which is about speaking to people objectively and gathering information that feeds into the Design Thinking elements and thinking creatively about how you can do this. Finally, Communications, where we work with the teams to develop their pitching techniques, which are crucial for panel-based progress reviews.”

In addition to the training, each team includes a Societal Impact Champion. These champions usually come from outside academia, perhaps from non-profits or industry, and act as a bridge between the research team and stakeholders in sectors the team will need to work with to properly understand the problem and devise the solution.

The onus is on the research teams taking part in the challenge to identify their Societal Impact Champion, and Stephen elaborates on the selection process: “One fantastic benefit of the process for teams is that, because the challenge process is flexible and agile in how it defines a team, the membership can change during the process. This allows them to take on additional Societal Impact Champions, who can become part of the team and inform its activities, thereby expanding the expertise and knowledge within the team.”

Collaboration is core to the challenge funding model, and even though teams compete, they often also engage with each other during the process. SFI encourages this and, whilst not forcing it, does provide ample opportunity for inter-team engagement through the training sessions, which are delivered as a cohort.

Programme Managment There is very close engagement with the SFI team to coach the researchers in the fund as they go through the process.

SFI holds regular progress update meetings with the research teams and to date, the team supporting the National Challenge Fund has conducted over 500 such progress meetings with the researchers participating in the fund.

Each challenge phase involves each research team successfully passing a stage gate to progress to the next phase.

Coordinating and managing this process is a huge amount of work. Stephen comments on this process: “As research teams go through the process, their progress is assessed by international experts at each stage gate. In the lead-up to those stage gates, they submit progress reports to us. In addition to that, our team has regular progress calls with the teams. Depending on the phase of the program that teams are in, that could be every five weeks.”

The training, mentoring, and work around the stage gates add up to a massive task for SFI, particularly as the National Challenge Fund is not the only challenge the organisation is running.

When asked how the team manages it all, Stephen says: “With a lot of organisation! As a national funder, we have a

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lot of infrastructure within the organisation and operational expertise that allows us to manage big programmes. We have a very high-performing team focused on the process, and we have a lot of planning and contingencies in place. And frankly, we’re also very agile.”

Alternative Funding Opportunities A process that sees 200 applications whittled down to around eight teams towards the end of the challenge can appear quite harsh in terms of attrition. However, not passing a stage gate does not have to mean the end of that team’s endeavours.

Thanks to the rigour of the process and the training and mentoring involved, teams that don’t progress in the challenge find they have other opportunities open to them. SFI has other funding programs, and the SFI team with its deep insight into the competing teams’ work, can work collaboratively with, for example, Enterprise Ireland to see if other funding avenues may be appropriate.

Stephen adds: “One of the beauties of this process means we have a really good sense of where each of the teams are at, so we can have a very fruitful conversations with other funders and give them the best insights as to how they could support the teams if they’re interested.”

Opportunity for the Public Sector Stephen is clear that there is an important place for public sector organisations in the challenge process: “I believe it’s really important that public sector organisations engage with researchers, and we have several teams working with public service organisations as the Societal Impact Champions to help them achieve some of their objectives innovatively.”

He concludes: “I think this type of programme and the collaborative opportunities that it creates allow specific issues to be addressed in the short term. In the longer term, it can help the system understand how those actors can work together meaningfully to address bigger and longer-term challenges and to inform policy.”

The National Challenge Fund is a €65M research fund established under the Government of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, that supports academic researchers to work with government, enterprise, public sector organisations and societal stakeholders to address national priorities for Ireland. This fund is coordinated and administered by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). The initiative addresses key national challenges in the areas of Green Transition and Digital Transformation and consists of eight challenges (five Green and three Digital).

For further information please contact: challenges@sfi.ie https://www.sfi.ie/challenges/national-challenge-fund/

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Building competitiveness for businesses through skills Join a Skillnet Business Network www.skillnetireland.ie

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The AI Advantage CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for Applied AI, is the Irish technology centre driving the accelerated development, deployment and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), for the benefit of companies and public sector organisations (PSOs) in Ireland.

CeADAR is a not-for-profit organisation funded by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA with headquarters in NexusUCD, Belfield Office Park. Backed by the Irish Government, CeADAR’s mission is to help Irish companies across any sector to build sustained competitive advantage using AI. CeADAR is the only technology centre awarded the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) for AI status in Ireland, allowing the organisation to continue to expand its reach to an increasing number of companies and public sector organisations. CeADAR joins 151 technology hubs in the EDIH network from over 27 EU Member States. CeADAR’s EDIH for AI programme is co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and the European Commission.

Extensive help is at hand for PSOs The European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) programme for AI in Ireland, helps public sector organisations become more digitally intense by providing access to technical expertise in Artificial Intelligence and data analytics. By helping PSOs test AI prototypes, to ensure that they solve real-world challenges before investing, our test-before-invest service minimises risk.

Upskilling your workforce is paramount to the success of digital and AI projects in your organisation. PSOs can access our specialist skills & training service. Our services go beyond individual projects to build an innovation ecosystem in Ireland.

We aim to connect companies, institutions, public administrations and other stakeholders in both Ireland and the wider EU, fostering collaborations that drive AI transformation forward.

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Mapping your digital maturity The Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) tool is designed to help Public Sector Organisations (PSOs) identify areas where technology can facilitate a smooth transition to AI. As the first step on your journey with CeADAR’s EDIH for AI programme, the DMA measures the current level of digitalisation within your organization across six key dimensions. For PSOs, the dimensions are Digital Strategy & Investments, Digital Readiness, Human-Centric Digitalisation, Data Management and Security, Interoperability, and Green Digitalisation. By answering a series of targeted questions, the DMA identifies technology gaps and provides insights on leveraging digital technologies to stay competitive and achieve your organisational goals.

Engaging with CeADAR’s DMA involves a guided online questionnaire lasting up to one hour, followed by a consultancy session to interpret the results. The follow-up with expert data scientists includes assessing your current capabilities, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and creating an AI Digital Roadmap for your organisation.

Upon completion, you will receive a DMA results report which benchmarks your organisation against peers in Ireland and Europe. You will also receive a roadmap to AI Transition tailored to your organisation. The DMA & consultancy service is priced at €6,800, but it is available at no charge to PSOs. Once your organisation has completed a Digital Maturity Assessment, you can access further services through CeADAR’s EDIH for AI programme. These include: Test Before Invest,

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The Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) tool is designed to help Public Sector Organisations (PSOs) identify areas where technology can facilitate a smooth transition to AI. Skills and Training, Ecosystem Building and Support to Find Investment. (www.ceadar.ie/edih)

Minimise risk of AI adoption Leading on from the digital maturity assessment service, our Test-Before-Invest services allow PSOs to leverage our expert data science team’s capabilities and resources to address specific business and technology challenges to enhance products, services, competitiveness, and profitability.

This could be a requirements gathering service to scope a Proof of Concept (PoC) and perform micro-feasibility tests to validate the proposed solution , and/or a Prototype development and testing service. Scoping a PoC is priced at €6,800 and Prototype project at €25,000, both available at no cost to PSOs. By engaging with our Test-Before-Invest service, organisations have the ability to assess the value of specific AI approaches to real-world challenges. Our comprehensive approach which includes knowledge & technology transfer, ensures that your organisation is well-prepared to use AI effectively, maximizing the benefit to your organisation.

“We are currently working with a range of enterprises and public sector organisations. Some organisations are only beginning their digital transition and need guidance on implementing the right digital technologies for example CRM platforms. Others are further along in their digital transition and need guidance on augmenting & automating existing digital processes & systems. This could include transferring data via Application Programming Interface (API) or automated scraping of data from websites. Some organisations already have the right data and digital technologies in place, and want our help to test AI solutions. One example of this is testing Retrieval Augmented Generation ChatBots for customer support. For a smaller cohort, in preparation for compliance with the EU AI Act, we are providing technical advisory

services in respect of AI use policies. We have a wealth of experience adapting our services to meet each organisation’s needs and deliver real value.” Laura Plunkett, EDIH Programme Manager

Upskill your workforce Currently, CeADAR’s EDIH for AI programme offers comprehensive AI training designed specifically for Executives. Our online course covers essential topics such as AI foundations, data analytics, strategy formulation, team building, and ethical considerations. It is a self-paced course with 10 modules and takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

By completing the course, you will gain a strategic understanding of AI’s role in business, develop the skills needed to lead AI initiatives effectively, and acquire expertise in data management, governance, and ethical AI usage.

Join our Ecosystem CeADAR builds a vibrant innovation ecosystem by organising regular events to connect businesses, PSOs and other stakeholders in Ireland. Our goal, to foster collaboration, and drive digital and AI innovation forward. Sign up to our newsletter to hear first about our next event.

“We are very proud to be the designated European Digital Innovation Hub in Artificial Intelligence for Ireland and be able to help SMEs and PSOs with their digital transformation and specially with the integration of AI into their activities and strategies. We are here not to leave anyone behind in this rapidly changing digital and AI-driven era.” Dr. Ricardo Simon Carbajo, Director of Innovation and Development and EDIH Programme at CeADAR. Sign up to our newsletter to hear first about our next event. www.ceadar.ie

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The AI Revolution Skillnet Ireland and higher education sector leading in artificial intelligence upskilling through cutting-edge co-creation model

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and Ireland is no exception. From large corporations to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), businesses across Ireland are increasingly integrating AI to streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and drive innovation. The impact of AI on Irish businesses is profound and multifaceted, necessitating a keen focus on upskilling to harness its full potential.

Skillnet Ireland, the Government of Ireland’s national talent development agency, commissioned a survey of 500 business leaders which revealed that more and more companies are seeing AI skills as a critical growth area and there is a growing awareness of the opportunities that AI can bring to businesses.

The survey, which led to the publication of a report, entitled Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2024, showed that businesses of all sizes are increasingly seeing the opportunities that AI can bring.

The research found that over 40% of large firms see the huge potential for AI skills to grow their businesses over the

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coming years, while one in five SMEs (22%) also identified AI as a critical growth area going forward. The key upskilling requirements highlighted by large businesses included robotic process automation (54%), cloud computing (47%) and artificial intelligence (42%). However, these businesses are encountering persistent challenges when it comes to attracting new talent, with two thirds struggling to hire employees with the appropriate skillset.

Established 25 years ago this year, Skillnet Ireland engages directly with businesses to meet their talent development needs.

Through our 70 Skillnet Business Networks, and National Initiatives - including Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, Skillnet Innovation Exchange and MentorsWork - covering each industry sector and region in Ireland, Skillnet Ireland puts enterprise in control of the process. In practice this means our programmes and supports are tailored specifically to what businesses want and are driven by market need.

Skillnet Ireland is championing the delivery of Government

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digital policies - including Ireland’s national Things, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud digital strategy, ‘Harnessing Digital - the computing, blockchain, and data analytics, Digital Ireland Framework’ and the AI said Dave Flynn, Director of Business strategy, ‘AI - Here for Good: National Networks, Skillnet Ireland.

Artificial Intelligence Strategy’ - by “Multiple Skillnet Business Networks delivering high-level digital skills in new are providing AI upskilling to businesses and emerging technologies and helping at all levels, from one-day foundational to achieve the EU target of 90% of SMEs training up to the Masters in Artificial having basic digital intensity by 2030.

Intelligence which we co-developed with Ireland draws great competitive Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),” Mr strength from our highly skilled and Flynn said. agile workforce, yet this is set against the “Skillnet Ireland facilitates backdrop of skills shortages across many collaboration between industry and HEIs sectors and rising competition for talent to work together to design new upskilling both domestically and globally. Sustaining programmes and new educational this competitive edge, closing skills gaps, qualifications that ensure Ireland’s and powering real career mobility goes to talent pipeline is appropriately skilled to the core of our mission in spearheading maintain a thriving national economy.” workforce development.

Skillnet Ireland’s co-creation Dave Flynn, Director of Business Networks, Skillnet Ireland, Skillnet Ireland was recognised as an model plays a vital role in facilitating innovative, agile and high-performing engagement between industry and the organisation - ranking first out of 47 tertiary education sector to develop international initiatives for impact on state-of-the-art programmes designed to businesses and contribution to the meet future skills needs across a range economy, including to the digital and of sectors and ensure that students, climate agenda - within a recent European learners, researchers, and innovators are Commission ‘Pact for Skills: Analysing equipped with the necessary expertise to of Upskilling and Reskilling Policy progress in their chosen specialisms and Initiatives and Identifying Best Practices’ pathways. report. The EU Pact for Skills not only Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet addresses immediate needs but also sets collaborates with the university sector to a strategic direction for skill development support businesses in getting leadingin Europe, and developing a resilient, edge training on AI from beginner to skilled workforce capable of navigating master’s level. The Network partnered the challenges brought forth by the digital with University of Limerick (UL) to and green transitions. It emphasises the create Ireland’s first industry-led Masters importance of upskilling and reskilling in Artificial Intelligence. the working-age population, leveraging The programme was launched six existing EU cooperation initiatives, and years ago in response to a growing promoting a culture of lifelong learning. demand by industry for AI skills in Each year Skillnet Ireland provides Ireland. Since then, the two-year course digital upskilling supports to over 13,000 people in businesses, has equipped learners with robust knowledge and skills in the through the delivery of cutting-edge programmes and application of AI and machine learning. This industry input initiatives, with a two-pronged focus on specialised talent is a critical component of its success, with leading tech firms for new or emerging technologies, and in enabling digital including Dell EMC, Ericsson, IBM, Intel Company, Microsoft, transformation within the SME sector. and Nokia Bell Labs – contributing to its development and Skillnet Ireland works with businesses to help them delivery. diagnose and assess their digital maturity to determine exactly Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet also offers a Certificate in where they are in their digitisation journey and align skills Artificial Intelligence and a Professional Diploma in Artificial needs to company objectives. The specialist technology-based Intelligence for Computer Vision with UL. The Network Skillnet Business Networks, provide upskilling solutions to delivers a range of co-creation AI programmes with other Irish maintain Ireland’s position as a leading global technology hub, universities too, such as the Certificate in Foundations of Artificial while multi-sector Business Networks deliver a range of digital Intelligence with TU Dublin; a Masters in Computer Science, literacy programmes, which focus on raising the baseline of Artificial Intelligence, with University of Galway and a Masters in digital skills to ensure Irish businesses position themselves with Computing, Artificial Intelligence, with Dublin City University. the right skills to take advantage of digital innovation.

Meanwhile, Itag Skillnet, which supports businesses based Skillnet Ireland and its technology Business Networks primarily in the west of the country through digital upskilling have developed a wide range of academic programmes in programmes and initiatives, offers a Postgraduate Cert in partnership with enterprise in areas such as the Internet of Artificial Intelligence for Professionals with University of

AI is

revolutionising the business landscape

in Ireland, offering significant

benefits in terms of

efficiency, decisionmaking, innovation, and customer experience.

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Each year Skillnet Ireland provides digital upskilling supports to over 13,000 people in businesses, through the delivery of cutting-edge programmes and initiatives, with a two-pronged focus on specialised talent for new or emerging technologies, and in enabling digital transformation within the SME sector.

Galway. The programme is targeted at learners who would benefit professionally from gaining a high-level understanding of the field of AI and is suitable for those who currently work with AI, or for those who plan to work with AI in the future.

The demand for AI upskilling across various sectors has also been recognised by multiple Skillnet Ireland Business Networks who have introduced a range of AI dedicated programmes in recent years. The Cultural and Creative Industries Skillnet offers upskilling in the use of AI for 3D design, Learning Waves Skillnet - which works with the independent radio sector - has delivered programmes including ‘AI for Marketing’, while Retail Ireland Skillnet’s AI in Retail Workshop focuses on how AI is changing consumer habits and retail practices.

These programmes and others provided by Skillnet Business Networks are resulting in tangible positive impacts for Irish businesses, added Dave Flynn.

“Companies are leveraging AI-driven analytics to gain insights into market trends, customer preferences, and operational performance. This enhanced decision-making

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capability is crucial for staying competitive in a fast-paced global market,” Mr Flynn said.

“Despite the growing adoption of AI, there is a significant skills gap in the workforce. Upskilling employees is critical to bridge this gap and ensure that businesses can fully leverage AI technologies. This is particularly important for SMEs, which often lack the resources to hire specialised AI talent. In an increasingly digital economy, businesses that fail to keep pace with emerging technologies risk falling behind their competitors. By investing in upskilling, Irish businesses can stay competitive, innovate continuously, and respond swiftly to market changes.”

AI is revolutionising the business landscape in Ireland, offering significant benefits in terms of efficiency, decisionmaking, innovation, and customer experience. However, to fully capitalise on these benefits, a commitment to upskilling is imperative. By investing in AI education and training, Irish businesses, including SMEs, can bridge the skills gap, stay competitive, enhance job roles, and foster a culture of innovation, thereby driving sustainable economic growth and development.

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Apprentices Wanted Revival of apprenticeships in Irish construction: A vital step forward.

In recent years, the Irish construction sector has led a concerted effort to revive and expand apprenticeship programs. This move is seen as crucial for addressing skills shortages, meeting housing targets, and achieving the ambitious goals set out in Ireland’s Project 2040 and the Housing for All strategy. The decline in apprenticeship numbers over the past decades has posed significant challenges, but recent government initiatives are turning the tide.

Historically, apprenticeships played a pivotal role in supplying skilled labour to the construction industry.

However, the 2008 financial crisis led to a significant decline in apprenticeship registrations, resulting in a severe skills shortage.

Between 2008 and 2013, the number of apprenticeships in construction plummeted by over 60%. This decline was driven by reduced construction activity, funding cuts, and a shift towards university education over vocational training.

The consequences of this decline have been far-reaching.

The shortage of skilled workers has contributed to delays and increased costs in construction projects. It has also hindered Ireland’s ability to meet its housing supply targets and exacerbated the housing crisis.

Recognizing the need to reverse this trend, the Irish government has implemented several measures to boost apprenticeship numbers. Earlier this year Taoiseach Simon Harris and Niall Collins, Minister Education and Skills announced a

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record number of apprentices registered in 2023, with significant increases in construction trades. The overall apprenticeship population now stands at 27,470, with a record 8,712 new registrations in 2023, 6,588 of which are in the crafts area.

Harris emphasised the importance of increasing the number of apprentices to meet the targets set under the Housing for All and Climate Action Plan. “We need thousands more workers in key craft sectors to achieve our climate goals and housing targets,” he said. “By 2025, we aim to have 10,000 new apprentices every year, and we are very close to reaching that target.”

To further bolster apprenticeship numbers, the government has proposed 17 new apprenticeship programs for 2024, including four in construction and others in areas such as firefighting and paramedics. These programs will provide a diverse range of opportunities for young people and Minister Collins expressed pride in the efforts made across the country to increase apprenticeship registrations and develop new programs.

“We know what our targets are, and we need to meet them to tackle challenges in housing, climate, and other areas,” Collins said. “It’s exciting to see so many new apprenticeships in development.”

Dr. Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office, also highlighted the significant expansion of apprenticeship programs. .

“By the end of 2024 there will be over 80 national

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“The overall apprentice population is 27,470 of which 2,272 are women.”

apprenticeship programmes available University of the Shannon (TUS) for the across a broad range of really dynamic EU-funded Build Up Skills Ireland 2030 industry areas in Ireland,” she said. scheme indicates that 120,000 new workers “The National Apprenticeship Office are needed in construction, with an is delighted to support employers and additional 164,000 requiring re-training to the enterprise community in meeting meet climate and housing targets by 2030. skills needs and supporting talent The research also highlights an imbalance development and retention through the in critical trades, with over 60% of apprenticeship route. apprentices opting to become electricians, “I am also delighted that end of resulting in shortages of plumbers and year figures indicate 8,712 apprentices carpenters. registered for training in 2023 and that a To address these challenges, the Irish really encouraging 2,124 of those are on government is not only expanding the consortia-led programmes. number of apprenticeship programs “The overall apprentice population is but also focusing on reducing delays in 27,470 of which 2,272 are women. training. Nearly 10,000 training places “Also, the number of phase 2 craft for phase 2 craft apprentices are planned apprentices delayed in their training has for this, almost doubling the capacity dropped for a second month in a row with from 2023. This aims to eliminate training Dr. Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National 3,919 apprentices waiting 6 months or more Apprenticeship Office delays and ensure a steady supply of as at the end of December. skilled workers.

“Close to 10,000 training The revival of places for phase 2 craft apprenticeships in the Irish apprentices are planned for construction sector is essential 2024, which is almost double for meeting the country’s the capacity in 2023. The construction targets and objective in 2024 is to eliminate ambitious Project 2040 goals. the delays in full, working With increased government closely month-on-month with support, new apprenticeship ETB, TU and IoT training programs, and a focus on providers, and with the support addressing skill shortages, of industry.”

Ireland is well on its way to Despite these efforts, building a skilled workforce Dr. Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National capable of driving its housing significant challenges remain.

Apprenticeship Office said.

Research by the Technological and climate initiatives.

“By the end of 2024 there will be over 80 national

apprenticeship programmes available across a broad

range of really dynamic

industry areas in Ireland,”

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POLYETHYLENE ELECTRO FUSION WELDING Course Description

This fully certified course has been developed in conjunction with Úisce Eireann. It was developed as an up-skilling initiative to meet the expansion of the use of Polyethylene EF Welding in the Irish Construction sector. The objective is to provide the learners who have previous experience in Polyethylene Electro Fusion Welding with the skills to enable them to use Electro Fusion welding equipment to weld/join polyethylene pipe safely on potable water and waste water mains systems using Electro Fusion Techniques to IS EN 13067:2020 standard. This course now also includes a module on Water Hygiene.

Course Content

Carry out pre-use safety and operational checks on equipment ● Carry out pre-use checks on fittings in accordance with manufacturer's instructions ● Check pipes and fittings for defects and deficiencies ● Have a strong understanding of all of the Úisce Eireann guidelines laid out in IW-TEC-1001, Code of Practice and standard detail drawings ● Describe visual faults in Electro Fusion joints and know how to prevent faults ● Explain the factors which affect the operation of fusion equipment ● Apply the correct procedure for preparing pipes for jointing ● Apply the correct procedure for electro-fusing pipes and fittings ● Outline the requirements for documentation required by the main contractor in order to sign off on the finished water main ● Understand destructive testing requirements ● Comprehend pre-requisites for chlorination and sterilisation ● Understand the pressure testing procedure requirements carried out post installation ● Understand the Drinking Water System and the process of clean drinking water from source to supply ● Conduct PH Water sampling ● How the safety of water can be maintained by good hygiene practices.

Course Certification

Polyethylene Electro Fusion Welding Certificate Certified to IS EN 13067: 2020 and a Water Hygiene Card.

POLYETHYLENE BUTT FUSION WELDING Course Description

This fully certified course has been developed in conjunction with Uisce Éireann. It was developed as an upskilling initiative to meet the expansion of the use of Polyethylene Butt Fusion Welding in the Irish Construction sector. The objective of this course is to provide learners who have previous experience in Polyethylene Electro/Butt Fusion Welding with the skills to enable them to use Butt Fusion welding equipment to weld/join polyethylene pipe safely on potable water and waste water mains systems using Butt Fusion Techniques to IS EN 13067:2020 standard. This course also includes a module on Hydrostatic Pressure Testing & Chlorination/De-Chlorination.

Course Content

Carry out pre-use safety and operational checks on equipment ● Carry out pre-use checks on fittings in accordance with manufacturer's instructions ● Check pipes and fittings for defects and deficiencies ● Have a strong understanding of the Uisce Éireann guidelines as laid out in the Code of Practice and standard detail drawings ● Describe visual faults in Butt Fusion joints and know how to prevent faults. Explain the factors which affect the operation of fusion equipment ● Apply the correct procedure for preparing pipes for jointing. Apply the correct procedure for butt-fusing pipes and fittings ● Outline the requirements for documentation required by the main contractor in order to sign off on the finished water main ● Understand destructive testing requirements ● Comprehend pre-requisites for chlorination and sterilisation ● Understand the pressure testing procedure requirements carried out post installation ● Understand the Drinking Water System and the process of clean drinking water from source to supply ● Perform Hydrostatic Pressure Testing as per IGN/DVGW specifications ● Adhere to IGN and DVGW specifications for chlorination

Course Certification

Polyethylene Butt Fusion Welding Certificate Certified to IS EN 13067: 2020 and a Hydrostatic Pressure Testing Card.

Learner Entry Requirements / Funding

Learners must have at least 1 years experience working in this type of industry, be employed on a full or part-time basis, and hold an Irish PPS number. These are on-site Classroom and Workshop courses and learners will need to be in attendance in person for the full 5 days.

For further details contact

086 0787057 / 051 301500 or nzeb@wwetb.ie 80

the Public Sector Magazine “WWETB is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU”

www.wwetb.ie/course-finder www.wwetbtraining.ie Waterford Wexford Training Services

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Advancing Industry Skills Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) in partnership with Egeplast Ireland Ltd, deliver fully certified Polyethylene Butt Fusion and Electro Fusion Welding courses.

These courses were developed in partnership with Uisce Éireann and are designed as an up-skilling initiative to meet the expansion of the use of Polyethylene Electro Fusion Welding (PE Welding) in the Irish Construction sector. Both courses were the first certified training courses designed in Ireland.

The investment in the funding of these courses is essential for advancing industry skills and upholding construction standards. Given the government’s commitment to increasing housing stock and improving infrastructure ensuring that there are upskilling opportunities available is a critical success factor in achieving these commitments. WWETB applies a partnership approach to these training initiatives and is always looking for ways to enhance delivery and apply innovations. The design of the Butt Fusion/Hydrostatic Pressure testing course in 2023 is an example of their ongoing commitment to innovation and designing courses which respond to industry demand.

WWETB’s training encompasses vital safety checks, advanced welding techniques, and IS EN 13067:2020 compliance. The inclusion of Hydrostatic Pressure Testing and Water Hygiene modules further enhances the curriculum.

These programs significantly enhance industry standards by improving the quality of potable water and wastewater systems.

WWETB’s collaboration with Egeplast & Uisce Éireann fosters professional development and helps to ensure reliable water systems throughout Ireland and also significantly reduces the loss of potable mains water through leakage.

WWETB also delivers a range of courses in the area of Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) and an industry-recognised QQI-certified Domestic Heat Pump Installation course. These courses are fully funded for those in employment with an Irish PPS number – www.wwetbtraining.ie/nzeb or contact 051 301500.

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UISCE Uisce Éireann, established as a public utility in 2013, is a subsidiary of the Ervia Group and provides public water services to over 80% of Ireland’s population.

Uisce Eireann was formed to consolidate the water and wastewater services of Ireland’s 31 local authorities under a single national service provider and bears the comprehensive responsibility for the operation and management of all public water and wastewater services across Ireland.

This mandate includes overseeing the national water and wastewater infrastructure, ensuring the efficient supply of water and the effective handling of wastewater for the entire population.

A crucial aspect of this responsibility is the ongoing maintenance of these systems, which involves addressing issues promptly to ensure uninterrupted service and system integrity.

Strategic investment and planning form the backbone of Uisce Éireann’s approach to enhancing the country’s water infrastructure.

This involves making informed decisions on where to allocate resources for maximum impact, ensuring that infrastructure improvements are both timely and effective. A key element of this strategy is managing capital projects, which are large-scale initiatives aimed at significantly upgrading water services and addressing critical infrastructure needs.

Uisce Éireann’s primary objectives are centered around the provision of safe and reliable water and wastewater services. This includes upholding the highest standards of health and safety, a commitment underscored by the organisation’s goal to achieve capital efficiency savings of €500 million. By evolving into a high-performing utility, Uisce Éireann aims to support national economic growth in alignment with Ireland’s economic and spatial planning policies.

However, the challenges facing Uisce Éireann are formidable.

The organisation inherited a fragmented and aging water infrastructure, particularly pronounced in major cities such as Dublin and Cork, where some systems date back to the 19th century.

This legacy presents several critical issues that must be addressed to modernise and improve water services.

Water quality and reliability are paramount concerns, with

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many water sources being small and vulnerable to contamination, resulting in quality issues that fall short of European and Irish standards. Additionally, high leakage rates plague the system, with nearly half of the water produced lost before it reaches consumers.

This not only impacts water availability but also represents a significant inefficiency in resource management.

Wastewater treatment presents another significant challenge.

Inadequate treatment facilities in 38 urban areas, coupled with 44 areas discharging raw sewage, highlight the urgent need for infrastructure improvements. These deficiencies pose environmental and public health risks that must be mitigated through comprehensive upgrades and better management practices.

Addressing these infrastructure deficiencies requires substantial investment and a strategic approach to planned maintenance. Years of underinvestment have left many treatment plants and networks in poor condition, necessitating a focused effort to rehabilitate and modernise the existing systems. Uisce Éireann’s commitment to overcoming these challenges is critical to ensuring sustainable and reliable water services for Ireland’s future In 2023, Uisce Éireann made significant strides in advancing Ireland’s water and wastewater infrastructure. With an investment exceeding €1.2 billion, the organisation demonstrated its commitment to improving service quality and its dedication to longterm infrastructure development and operational excellence.

The past year saw notable achievements in both water and wastewater treatment. Uisce Éireann successfully treated 1.72bn litres of drinking water and 1.26bn litres of wastewater daily, ensuring the consistent provision of essential services. The organisation also achieved a remarkable compliance rate of 99.7% with drinking water microbiological and chemical standards for public water supplies, reflecting its commitment to high-quality and safe water.

Infrastructure development was a key focus, with the completion of 51 new or upgraded water and wastewater

Public Sector Magazine

treatment plants. Additionally, Uisce Éireann laid or rehabilitated 512 kilometers of water mains and 122 kilometers of sewers, significantly enhancing the capacity and reliability of the water network. These efforts are critical in supporting the growing needs of Ireland’s population and maintaining the integrity of the water infrastructure.

Uisce Éireann also played a pivotal role in supporting housing development. In 2023, the organisation issued 4,597 connection offers, associated with 42,970 housing units. These connections are vital in facilitating new housing developments and addressing Ireland’s housing demands, showcasing Uisce Éireann’s role in broader national development goals.

Financially, Uisce Éireann reported robust performance in 2023.

Total revenue reached €1.560 billion, comprising €1.068bn from government subventions and €492m from non-domestic and new connection revenues. This diverse revenue stream highlights the organisation’s financial health and its ability to secure substantial funding for its operations.

Capital expenditure for the year amounted to €1.289bn, marking an increase of €228m from 2022. This increase reflects Uisce Éireann’s intensified efforts in infrastructure investment and underscores its commitment to addressing the critical needs of the water sector.

These investments are essential for modernising the infrastructure and ensuring its sustainability for future generations.

Profitability also saw a significant boost, with a profit after tax of €329m. This surplus is earmarked for reinvestment in infrastructure, aligning with Uisce Éireann’s strategic objective of continuous improvement and expansion of water and wastewater services. The reinvestment strategy ensures that the financial gains are directed towards enhancing service delivery and infrastructure resilience.

In summary, 2023 was a year of substantial progress and achievement for Uisce Éireann. The organisation’s significant investments, coupled with its strong financial performance, underscore its pivotal role in ensuring the provision of highquality water and wastewater services across Ireland. As Uisce Éireann continues to build on these successes, it remains committed to meeting the evolving needs of the population and contributing to national development.

One of the standout successes in 2023 was the completion of infrastructure upgrades at the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ireland’s largest, to comply with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. By the end of 2025, the plant will be able to treat wastewater for a population of 2.4m, with all ancillary works completed by 2026.

Uisce Éireann has also made significant strides in reducing raw sewage discharges at ten sites, resulting in cleaner and safer water for communities. Projects were completed at Roscommon and Mallow, achieving compliance with the Directive.

Despite these achievements, Uisce Éireann faces ongoing challenge and reducing leakage rates remains a priority, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area where population growth drives increased water demand. In addition, Further improvements are needed to ensure that all urban areas meet required wastewater treatment standards.

In 2023, the organisation removed 10 schemes from the EPA’s Remedial Action List, though 9 new schemes were added, leaving 57 supplies on the list by year-end. A crucial area of focus has been the reduction of trihalomethanes (THMs), harmful byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with organic material in

water. Uisce Éireann has completed works on 69 of the 74 public water supplies identified in a European Union infringement case, with only 5 supplies remaining to be addressed.

The organisation has also made substantial progress in lifting Boil Water Notices (BWN). In 2023, 55,072 people were relieved from BWNs that had lasted more than 30 days. By the end of the year, 19,109 people remained under such notices. Additionally, upgrades were made to 29 sites under the National Disinfection Programme and 9 sites under the Coagulation, Filtration, and Clarification (CFC), Filtration, and Sludge Programme.

Furthermore, 13 water treatment plants were rationalized, and 9,588 lead service connections were replaced.

The compliance level of public water supplies with microbiological and chemical standards exceeded 99% in 2022, a testament to Uisce Éireann’s effective measures and investments.

Significant advancements were also made in wastewater management. Uisce Éireann completed works at 3 sites implicated in the European Court of Justice wastewater infringement case Ringsend, Roscommon, and Mallow - bringing the total completed sites to 22 out of 28. Furthermore, 10 agglomerations previously without wastewater treatment were connected to new or upgraded plants in various locations including Kilmore Quay, Spiddal, and Clarecastle. By the end of 2023, 19 agglomerations still required treatment improvements.

Uisce Éireann also realised 42 new and upgraded wastewater treatment plants, laid 122 kilometers of new and rehabilitated sewer lines, and upgraded 33 wastewater treatment plants.

To future-proof Ireland’s water infrastructure, Uisce Éireann completed 9 new and upgraded water treatment plants and laid 512 kilometers of new and rehabilitated water mains. Notable projects include the completion of a €59 million treated water reservoir at Saggart, Co. Dublin, and significant upgrades to water treatment plants in Leixlip, Ballyboden, and Ballymore Eustace. These initiatives benefit homes and businesses in the Greater Dublin Area by providing a cleaner and more secure drinking water supply.

The EPA’s latest Drinking Water Report recognises Uisce Éireann’s continued improvements in delivering safe drinking water, highlighting a 99.7% compliance rate with microbiological and chemical standards. Over €530 million was invested in upgrading Ireland’s drinking water infrastructure in 2023. Since 2014, over 61,000 lead connections have been replaced.

Niall Gleeson, Uisce Éireann’s CEO stated that the organisation’s strong performance in 2023 was delivered in a year of complex change and challenge.

“During the year we prioritised the investment of over €1.2 billion in Ireland’s critical water and wastewater infrastructure. This level of investment enables us to make essential multi-generational improvements targeted at providing resilient water services, benefiting communities and supporting growth and development across Ireland.”

“Our primary focus continues to be delivering safe, clean and environmentally compliant water and wastewater services through essential projects and ongoing maintenance and upgrading of infrastructure.”

Uisce Éireann has made remarkable progress, evidenced by substantial investments and significant improvements in water and wastewater infrastructure. The organisation’s commitment to enhancing service quality, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, and supporting economic growth is clear.

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Housing Commission Urges Policy Reset The recent report by the Housing Commission’s unequivocally states that the government’s housing policy requires a “radical” reset. Despite the progress made under the Housing for All plan, which has delivered over 110,000 homes since 2020, the Commission highlights that a more strategic and aggressive approach is necessary to address the underlying housing deficit.

To address the housing deficit, the Commission estimates an annual delivery target of 23,500 homes between 2025 and 2034, solely to bridge the existing shortfall. This target is in addition to the 33,000 homes per year already planned under the Housing for All strategy.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, published a series of reports prepared by the Housing Commission, which includes an extensive review of Ireland’s housing system and proposed wording for a referendum on housing. The Housing Commission, established in December 2021 as an independent body, was tasked with examining Ireland’s housing system and making long-term policy recommendations.

The Commission’s findings underscore the urgent need for a radical reset of Ireland’s housing policy, emphasizing increased state involvement and the creation of a new oversight body.

This report delves into The Housing Commission, formed under the Programme for Government, was mandated to address critical issues in housing, such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality of life. The 14-member commission included notable figures like Professor Ronan Lyons of Trinity College Dublin and Daft. ie, former ICTU general secretary Patricia King, and property

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developer Michael O’Flynn.

Over the last two years, the Commission has conducted over 200 meetings and consulted with more than 70 housing and industry experts to develop its comprehensive recommendations.

The Housing Commission’s report unequivocally states that the government’s housing policy requires a “radical” reset. Despite the progress made under the Housing for All plan, which has delivered over 110,000 homes since 2020, the Commission highlights that a more strategic and aggressive approach is necessary to address the underlying housing deficit.

The Commission identifies a shortfall of up to 256,000 homes and advocates for emergency action to bridge this gap.

One of the primary recommendations is the establishment of a new oversight body dedicated to housing. This body would ensure accountability, monitor progress, and facilitate the implementation of housing policies. It is proposed to oversee both public and private sector contributions to housing delivery, ensuring a balanced and sustained approach.

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“We’re not doing

The report calls for a significant housing supply, this Government is increase in state involvement and funding making progress when it comes to home in the housing sector and criticises the ownership,” Harris asserted. government’s substantial expenditure He highlighted the significant increase on long-term leasing, which it deems in housing construction, noting that ineffective, advocating for a more over 30,000 homes have commenced direct role in housing provision. The construction this year alone, with more recommended funding level is between than 32,000 homes built last year. Harris €16-€20bn annually, sourced from both also pointed to the extension of the waiver public and private sectors. on development levies and increased A targeted increase in the proportion investment in the First Home scheme as of social and cost-rental housing to 20% evidence of the government’s proactive of the national stock is another critical approach. recommendation. This aims to ensure Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien - Children’s Ombudsman an appropriate tenure mix and address echoed Harris’s sentiments and noted that Dr. Niall Muldoon the artificially elevated household sizes 65 of the 83 actions recommended by the caused by housing scarcity.

Commission are already implemented, To address the housing deficit, the Commission estimates an underway, or partially underway. annual delivery target of 23,500 homes between 2025 and 2034, “Housing for All is working,” O’Brien declared, insisting solely to bridge the existing shortfall. This target is in addition to that the policy addresses the root causes of the housing crisis. the 33,000 homes per year already planned under the Housing for Meanwhile Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin described the report as All strategy. The Commission further projects that, depending on a “damning indictment” of the government’s housing policies. Ó future household sizes and population growth, annual housing Broin argued that the report’s critical language reflects the failure delivery might need to rise to 81,400 units by 2050. of successive governments to treat housing as a priority. He The recommendations are crucial for the Housing for emphasised the need for an emergency response to the housing All plan, which aims to deliver an average of 33,000 homes crisis, accusing the government of failing to deliver meaningful annually between 2022 and 2030. The Commission’s report actions despite significant public expenditure. emphasises that meeting these targets is essential but not Children’s Ombudsman Dr. Niall Muldoon echoed these sufficient; additional efforts are required to address the existing sentiments and criticised the lack of planning and resources. deficit and future demands.

Muldoon pointed to the unmet targets of the Rebuilding Ireland The report outlines several critical challenges that must be strategy as evidence of the government’s shortcomings. “We’re addressed to effectively increase housing delivery. One major not doing as good as we possibly can. We’re not providing issue is the high inflation in the construction industry, and the resources, we’re not planning ahead,” Muldoon asserted. rising costs of materials and labor present significant obstacles.

Labour Senator Mark Wall and Labour leader Ivana Bacik Strategic interventions are necessary to control and mitigate also voiced their concerns. Wall criticized the government’s these escalating expenses, ensuring that construction projects reliance on the private market, advocating for a return to building remain financially viable. council houses on council land while Bacik described the housing Additionally, delays in the planning system hinder progress, crisis as the civil rights issue of this generation and criticized the making it imperative to streamline the planning approval process. government’s self-congratulatory stance. “The report confirms By accelerating approvals, housing delivery can be expedited, what some of us have been saying all along – developer-led allowing for the achievement of ambitious housing targets. planning does not deliver the homes we need,” Bacik stated.

Another pressing challenge is the acute pressure on The Housing Commission’s report has ignited an important accommodation availability, particularly in urban areas. This debate on Ireland’s housing policies, with the government scarcity requires immediate measures to alleviate current defending its progress and critics calling for more urgent and stresses and ensure that housing demands are met promptly. radical measures. The recommendations of the report, along Addressing these challenges through comprehensive strategies with the varied political reactions, highlight the complexities will be essential in enhancing housing delivery. of addressing the housing crisis and underscore the need for By tackling high construction costs, expediting planning continued and intensified efforts to provide affordable and approvals, and easing accommodation pressures, the housing sector adequate housing for all. can move towards meeting its goals more efficiently and effectively Following the Housing Commission’s recommendations, the Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed the government’s report will be analysed by the Housing Agency to assess costings, commitment to considering the recommendations of the timelines, and prioritisation. Subsequently, the Minister will Housing Commission. Speaking in the Dáil, Harris said the present policy recommendations to the government. government has already undertaken several radical steps to An inter-departmental group will develop policy address the housing crisis and cited the establishment of the recommendations based on the Commission’s work, and the Land Development Agency and the reform of planning laws Attorney General’s advice will be sought before finalising the as key measures implemented to enhance housing supply and proposals. These steps aim to ensure a comprehensive and wellhome ownership. rounded approach to housing policy reform, addressing both “This Government is making progress when it comes to immediate needs and long-term goals.

as good as we

possibly can. We’re not providing

resources, we’re not planning ahead.”

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Affordable Housing The Affordable Housing Purchase (AHP) Scheme aims to provide homes at reduced prices for low and middle-income earners, addressing the pressing issue of housing affordability. The scheme has encountered significant challenges and criticism, particularly with the recent controversy surrounding house prices in Coolock, north Dublin.

The Affordable Housing Purchase (AHP) Scheme targets various demographics, including first-time buyers and individuals with modest incomes.

By retaining an equity stake in the homes, the government ensures long-term affordability and control over resale conditions.

The Affordable Housing Purchase Scheme was introduced as a part of the broader government strategy to tackle Ireland’s housing crisis. The primary objectives of the affordable housing scheme are to significantly boost homeownership among low and middle-income families who are currently unable to afford market prices, thereby broadening access to housing.

The scheme also aims to make strategic use of public land for the development of housing projects, ensuring that state resources are optimally utilized. Additionally, the scheme includes provisions for cost subsidies, where government and council financial support will enable homes to be sold at reduced prices, making them affordable for eligible buyers. These measures collectively aim to address housing affordability and increase the availability of affordable homes.

The scheme targets various demographics, including firsttime buyers and individuals with modest incomes. By retaining an equity stake in the homes, the government ensures long-term affordability and control over resale conditions.

However, controversy erupted recently when it was revealed that homes being allocated under the Affordable Housing Scheme in the Oscar Traynor Woods development in Coolock were priced significantly higher than initially expected.

The initial price estimates in late 2021 suggested a maximum price of €308,750 for a three-bedroom home.

However, current prices have soared to €475,000, causing an

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uproar among public representatives and the community.

Dublin Councillor John Lyons has been vocal in his criticism of the pricing, describing it as “outrageous” and a betrayal of public trust. Lyons emphasized that the drastic increase from €308,750 to €475,000 makes the homes unaffordable for many, even those with decent incomes. He has called for an emergency motion to pause the scheme and investigate the price hike. Lyons highlighted the lack of transparency in the public-private partnership model and called for a thorough review to ensure fair pricing.

“A three-bed home costing upwards of €475,000 is completely outrageous,” he said.

“We were told in a meeting in 2021 by councillors, specifically Fianna Fáil, Green Party and Labour councillors who voted to give away this public land, that the maximum housing purchase price would be no more than €308,750.

“Now in June 2024, we see the price has gone up to €475,000. It’s a complete and utter travesty to see public land being squandered in such a way because these houses are not affordable for anyone, even on a decent income.”

He added that he thought it was “hugely important” for public representatives in Dublin City Council to investigate these new figures and determine how there has been such a shift in the asking price.

“I am calling on the chief executive of Dublin City Council, Richard Shakespeare, to pause phase one of this affordable

Public Sector Magazine

housing purchase scheme,” he said.

Sinn Féin’s housing spokesman, Eoin Ó Broin, echoed similar sentiments, arguing that a €500,000 price tag for a “standard home” is unaffordable anywhere, not just in Coolock. Ó Broin pointed out that to afford such a home, a gross household income of €106,875 is required, which is beyond the reach of many families the scheme aims to assist.

However, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has defended tscheme, arguing that only a few homes would reach the upper limit of €475,000. He emphasized that most homes in the development are priced from €264,000, which is relatively affordable for Dublin.

O’Brien also highlighted the broader context of the development, which includes social housing, cost rental, and affordable purchase units, supported by a €110 million government investment. He also noted the importance of delivering much-needed homes in a project stalled for three decades.

“If you look at Oscar Traynor Woods, that’s a major development there. They’ve been held up for 30 years,” he said.

“851 homes we are going to deliver there, affordable purchase, cost rental and social started from €264,000. I’ve read the report. Three beds there, the larger three bedrooms, [start] at €399,000 and, depending on affordability for people because there’s an equity stake in them through the Affordable Housing Funds, they will range up to €475,000. Very few of them actually will be. But there’s a real need in the area for affordable homes.”

“If you look at the range, we’re starting there from €264,000 euro in Dublin for homes there,” Mr O’Brien continued.

“We have a pipeline. We delivered over 4,000 affordable homes actually last year. I expected us to do over 6,000 this year. Oscar Traynor Woods has been a site that has been vacant and has been held up by most of the opposition parties I might add for the goods for 30 years.

Our government and my department are funding this development to the tune of over €110m million to deliver 850 fantastic homes for our people.

“At the upper end of it for the very very larger three beds, depending on your income by the way, that’s the range they’re not selling for €475,0000, depending on one’s income there will be a higher amount, so you’ll have a lesser equity stake within the house.”

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien “We delivered over 4,000 affordable homes actually last year. I expected us to do over 6,000 this year.

Last year, the government fell short of its social and affordable housing targets by 2,680 homes.

However, Minister O’Brien points to a 16.3% increase from the previous year as evidence that recent efforts to address housing issues are now yielding substantial results.

The controversy has drawn attention to the ambiguous nature of what constitutes “affordable” housing. Common sense suggests that affordability should vary by region, yet a clear, universally accepted definition is lacking. The Greens’ Housing Policy document links affordability to average salaries, suggesting a house price around €225,000 based on current lending rules. This figure starkly contrasts with the median house price of €446,000 in Dublin, highlighting the discrepancy between policy and reality.

Despite the controversy, strong demand is expected for affordable housing schemes, as evidenced by the upcoming project in Mallow, Cork. Here, homes will be sold at approximately 20% below market value, starting at €275,000 for three-bedroom houses. The scheme aims to make homeownership accessible to first-time buyers and those with gross household incomes below specific thresholds.

Last year, the government fell short of its social and affordable housing targets by 2,680 homes.

However, Minister O’Brien points to a 16.3% increase from the previous year as evidence that recent efforts to address housing issues are now yielding substantial results.

“Despite missing targets, the government delivered more than 4,000 affordable homes and aims to exceed 6,000 this year,” he said.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin also defended the government’s performance, citing significant progress compared to three years ago and expressing confidence in achieving higher delivery targets.

He said that the government aims to increase overall housing delivery to over 40,000 units within the next two years by adopting modern construction methods While the AHP Scheme represents a critical effort to address housing affordability, the recent controversy in Coolock highlights the challenges and complexities involved in defining and delivering affordable housing. Clearer definitions, transparency in public-private partnerships, and realistic pricing aligned with average incomes are essential to ensure the scheme meets its objectives and genuinely benefits those in need.

As the government continues to navigate these challenges, ongoing dialogue and adjustments will be crucial to achieving sustainable housing solutions for all.

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Delivering Excellence Think vacuum cleaning, think Hoover. Think fizzy drinks, think Coca-Cola. Think skin protection, think Vaseline.

Think construction, think Sisk.

With major plans in situ to change the rail network across the country, John Sisk & Son (Sisk) has got Irish Rail’s back. Sisk is an instantly recognisable brand among the masses and one that Irish Rail trusts to help deliver on its short-term goals.

The invitation to Sisk to get on board Irish Rail’s journey towards a better future for its customers and employees is, of course, no surprise given the former’s proven capability in the rail sector across Ireland and the UK. Sisk’s reputation for excellence precedes itself. Its comprehensive range of quality work in the areas of frameworks, early contractor involvement, Design & Build and traditional works brooks no debate. Of course, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and, in that regard, Sisk’s curriculum vitae is eye candy for would-be collaborators with such projects as Pearse Station roof, Luas Cross City, Crossrail and refurbishment of several London Underground tube stations luminous among those filed away under ‘highly commended’

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by industry archivists.

Over the decades, the Sisk team has consistently hogged the limelight by dint of its quality, innovative and stand-out work.

For more years than its rivals can remember, the company’s finest have pushed the boat out to meet clients’ demands in the evolving building environment. Recently they rolled out the firm’s new strategy internally to its staff titled: Breaking New Ground.

Made up of five key strategic priorities, Sisk hope its newly hatched strategy will act as a roadmap for the next three to five years for the business. Clients, new and old, will delight in receiving a briefing on the strategy in due course.

Sisk has many attributes which keeps it to the fore. In a rapidly changing industry, it remains one of the leading term maintenance contractors in the fields of carrying out structures remediation; buildings refurbishment; mechanical and electrical planned maintenance; earthworks; fencing; drainage clearance and repairs on behalf of Network Rail, UK and other train

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The project for

operating companies.

Sisk’s undisputed reputation for excellence is built on firm foundations.

Among its fans’ favourites is the Pearse Roof (built in 1870s) project it undertook which involved the replacement of the existing roofs on both the main train hall and carpark of Pearse Railway Station in Dublin. Significantly, the station remained operational at all times during the period it took to replace the roof.

Work on Pearse Station wasn’t without its inherent difficulties though.

The station is bounded by Trinity College Dublin, Goldsmith Hall, St Andrew’s Church and the Boyne Street residential complex and is also home to a number of small independent retailers at the main entrance from Westland Row and on both station platforms.

In addition, Saint Andrew’s Church and the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute building also surround it, and there’s minimal access points.

Furthermore, the works needed to be completed with over 30,000 passengers per day passing through the station.

For the initiated and uninitiated, the temporary works structure appeared as a major feature of the Pearse Roof project.

The concept design, a moving steel structure, was further developed upon contract award, when all the challenges associated with the tasks ahead were evaluated by the site team. Sisk management personnel have acknowledged that their team’s ability to work during the day was a key driver along with the logistical challenges of getting materials into site.

Crucially, the site team engaged the Sisk in-house Temporary Works department to assist in this process. A detailed survey of the internal station was completed using traditional surveying methods to validate a previously completed point cloud survey on behalf of Iarnród Éireann.

Interestingly, Navisworks was used to create a 3D model of the structure with the member sizes and lengths then finalised.

The model assisted in detecting some of the clashes on the platforms with existing station infrastructure.

The project was completed in September 2020. In the interim, it has gone on to win the ICE Awards ‘Project of the Year’ Award 2022 and CECA Excellence Awards 2022 – ‘Over €15 million’ category.

Over the years, Sisk and Irish Rail have steadily consolidated their mutually beneficial partnership with works such as the Foynes Freight Line shining a light on the duo’s propensity to be readymade bedfellows.

In that regard, Irish Rail’s decision to award Sisk the contract for the first phase of the Foynes Freight Line works (to reinstate the Limerick to Foynes rail line (42km) for freight services, with mobilisation and physical works) didn’t go unnoticed by anyone in the construction or engineering

business in these islands.

The project for phase 1 of the works has been funded by the Department of Transport, and will focus on track and track bed works, vegetation clearance, fencing and works at bridges, level crossings and public road crossings.

It is anticipated that Sisk will continue to play a major role in delivering the Rail Freight 2040 Strategy to dramatically increase the levels of freight on Ireland’s rail network.

Meanwhile, Sisk has, of course, made waves overseas. Crossrail London’s largest tunnelling scheme in 2010 was awarded to Dragados Sisk Joint Venture (DSJV) a partnership which combined Sisk’s expertise to deliver design and programme benefits for both client and future passengers alike.

The contract included bored tunnels, Sprayed Concrete Lined (SCL) tunnels, diaphragm wall shafts, segment manufacturing facility, spoil handling conveyor systems, and a 200m long berth and ship-loading facility for soil removal by marine transportation.

Meanwhile, the Luas Cross City continues to stand out like a lighthouse in a bog for hard pressed, demanding commuters. Recognised as being one of the most challenging and complex projects undertaken by the Irish State in the modern era, Irish Rail saw fit to put the Luas project into Sisk’s lap.

The successful delivery of the project by Sisk/Steconfer JV (SSJV) was viewed as nationally important in terms of Ireland’s reputation and ability to attract future investment, both in national infrastructure and the economy in general.

The traffic management requirements involved in the project were extensive, particularly in relation to the on-street section.

As planned, they were set to involve the most unprecedented levels of ongoing city centre traffic management in decades, which made it all the more imperative that one of Sisk’s core project mantras was to ‘Keep Dublin moving.’

Over half of the project was constructed in a live city environment, with upwards of 50 discrete sites active at any point in time, spread across the city centre. The works were completed without requiring any business premises to close, while also maintaining traffic and pedestrian corridors throughout. The entire work was achieved through considered planning and extensive engagement with local authorities, local businesses, and transport providers.

The rebuilding and rejuvenation of Dublin’s city centre streets which incorporate the extension has left a positive legacy for Dublin city centre.

Sisk continues to construct a significant legacy with Irish Rail, its commuters and stakeholders among the long list of beneficiaries.

phase 1 of the

works has been funded by the Department

of Transport,

and will focus on track and

track bed works, vegetation

clearance, fencing and works at

bridges, level

crossings and public road crossings.

www.johnsiskandson.com

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Delivering Affordable Homes in Ireland John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency, outlines how the organisation works in partnership with local authorities and private developers to deliver affordable new homes in Ireland.

Shanganagh – a partnership between the Land Development Agency and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, which will deliver 597 new homes in Shankill, Co. Dublin

Ireland’s Housing Challenge A housing challenge many European countries face is the failure of the housing system’s capacity to keep up with the number of homes needed by growing populations. Widening gaps between housing availability and need result in spiralling house prices, pulling increasing numbers of middle-income families into a demographic bracket where house purchases become unaffordable.

In its ‘Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland’, the government acknowledged the current housing crisis and set out a clear plan to build an average of 33,000 new homes annually from 2021 to 2030.

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The housing crisis has altered the demographics around home ownership, with the average household size increasing dramatically. John Coleman is greatly concerned by the inability of younger people to get their own home, “One of the starkest graphs I’ve seen was the number of 25 to 29-year-olds still living with parents increasing from 40% in 2018 to 68% today.”

Another consequence of the housing shortage in Ireland may be an impact on the economy John explains, “We’re hearing it loud and clear in Dublin, Cork and other locations that the lack of housing availability is a major barrier to employers coming to these locations. And so it’s not just an issue of people that need housing right now, but it’s the impact on the attractiveness of Ireland to investors and employers into the future.”

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were released in partnership with private developers. Primarily located in Dublin, 600 were made available on a cost-rental basis. John illustrates how low general rental housing availability was when he remarks, “On the day we released those onto the market, there were only 1200 homes available for rent in Dublin. So, we increased the number of rental homes available by 50% that day. We wish it were possible to release such volumes of new homes on a more regular basis, but it illustrates both the chronic need for and positive impact of affordable rental homes delivery.”

Over half of the 20 sites currently being worked on by the LDA are in partnership with local authorities, and the first of these direct delivery sites at Shanganagh, Shankill, is starting to yield results.

Undertaken as a partnership between the LDA and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the project will see about 300 homes released this year, with a further 300 to follow in 2025.

Barnwell Point is one of the Project Tosaigh developments at Hansfield in West Dublin – delivering 247 cost rental homes.

The Land Development Agency The Land Development Agency (LDA) was created in 2018 when John Coleman, along with two colleagues from the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), was approached to establish the organisation following a recommendation in the National Planning Framework for the creation of a state body that would coordinate the release of land in public control for affordable and social housing development. From a late 2018 launch with no office, computers, staff or any other corporate infrastructure, in 5 years, the LDA has grown into an organisation with a 200-strong workforce in Dublin and a regional presence in Cork, Galway and Limerick.

The LDA’s work has three main focus areas: longer-term strategic planning of large-scale areas, near-term direct delivery of state lands and working in partnership with the private sector to deliver on developer-owned inactive land projects. All three areas initially aim to provide affordable and social housing schemes in the Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford areas.

The longer-term strategic plans include working with the Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and Office of Public Works (OPW) on lands owned by them at Inchicore for a phased release of land for affordable homes and mixed-use regeneration. The Agency is also developing plans in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE), CIÉ and the local authority to regenerate urban brownfield land in Limerick City – Colbert Quarter - which aims to deliver 2,800 homes with transportation, public spaces and commercial floorspace. In Galway, the LDA is working with the City Council to redevelop the Sandy Road area to deliver mixed-tenure housing, outside spaces, community facilities and sustainable transportation.

In the near term, John says, “Much of our focus is on developing state lands for affordable and social housing. We have about 20 sites that we’re working on at the moment for nearer-term delivery. The capacity of those sites would yield about 10,000 homes over the time it takes to develop them.”

In the relatively short time of its existence, the LDA is proving to be a successful concept. In 2023, 800 new homes

Partnering For Success The LDA knows that forging strong and lasting partnerships with local authorities is critical to solving the housing need puzzle. John explains, “Local authorities are the only state bodies that hold land for housing development purposes, so our interests are 100% aligned. As a result, we have great relationships and partnerships with them.”

Though other state bodies hold land, they tend to do so for reasons other than housing, so this relationship the LDA forges with local authorities is not just a partnership but a symbiotic one. He also points out that it’s not just a relationship based on need; Section 15 of the LDA Act mandates that the LDA provides services to local authorities for housing development.

The LDA’s values are ‘Integrity’, ‘Collaboration’, ‘Sustainability’, ‘Innovation’ and ‘Delivery’. The organisation knows projects won’t be delivered if there is no collaboration, so As John explains, partnerships with private developers are also crucial for delivering new homes.

“Collaboration with the private sector has enabled us to deliver housing much quicker than we could on our own steam.

So, the partnerships approach, leveraging and embracing our collaboration value at the LDA has been huge for us. At the end of the day, the LDA is about making development happen where and when it should be happening. The state isn’t always going to own the lands needed for development. But the outcome that we want is for suitable lands to be delivered as affordable and social homes, and if we can achieve that outcome through partnerships with the private sector and developers, we should do that.“

The Helping Hand For Homes The LDA’s business plan through to 2028 includes the delivery of 14,000 new homes, of which 11,000 are earmarked to be delivered on a cost rental basis. Cost rental is a housing tenure whereby the rent on a property is calculated based on the cost of building, managing and maintaining it over a minimum of 40 years and must be at least 25% below market rents for the area.

Cost rental is an attractive, long-term, secure rental option for middle-income families who are above the threshold to qualify for social housing but struggle to get on the housing

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ladder or afford market rents in their area. John believes that the cost rental model can be particularly attractive for the delivery of apartments, and he hopes that achieving a good level of scale for this operating model can encourage future investment from the government or the private sector, who may find the long, stable income from such projects attractive.

John comments, “The big strategic question is how do we maximise the impact of those 14,000 homes? If the LDA can prove that the cost rental model works and it mushrooms so others enter the market, we wouldn’t view that as competition. We would view that as absolute success, and we would have a much broader, investable, large-scale cost rental market in the country.”

The LDA does not view cost rental as a replacement for home ownership but as a complement to it. A younger family may choose a cost rental option as a stepping stone to home ownership. “If someone could be saving up to €1000 a month on market rental costs by choosing cost rental, they could put that saving towards a deposit on a home that they buy on the market or through the affordable housing scheme. So I think that both tenures are suited for people at different times of their lives, and cost rental savings can support the purchase of a home later on,” John explains.

Facing The Challenges Even with strong partnerships, delivering on an ambitious programme of affordable housing delivery doesn’t come without challenges. The traditional challenge in housing development has been complex and slow-moving planning processes. However, things are beginning to look more favourable in that regard, and John remarks, “I think the government’s made a lot of positive steps towards resolving the planning situation over the past year. In particular, with the Planning and Development Bill that we will hope to see implemented shortly.”

An individual’s right to challenge a planning scheme can significantly delay the delivery of new homes, and the LDA is not immune from this; despite lots of time and effort put into consulting local communities, one project at Dundrum Central Mental Hospital is held up in judicial review as the result of one person challenging it. John explains that a balance is needed, “We respect people’s right to challenge, but we think it’s very important for the country to establish, in a broad and general sense, at what point the rights of an individual outweigh the great need of the country in terms of delivering housing.”

The LDA also has no power to compel land-owning bodies to use their land for housing, and with limited powers of compulsory purchase, land acquisition can be challenging.

Another issue the organisation faces is that of maintaining a strong talent pipeline. “We compete directly with the private sector for staff.” John says, “The private sector ebbs and flows in terms of demand for staff, and so ensuring that we can attract and retain the right people is critical. We’re structured as a commercial semi-state, so we’re not necessarily within a pay scale structure, but at the same time, we are a public body, and sometimes we’re more constrained than the private sector. So the recruitment piece is massive for us.”

Younger talent is often driven by work that has meaning and purpose beyond salary, and the LDA is a mission-driven

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The LDA has plans to deliver 852 new homes at the Dundrum Central site. organisation, as John explains. “Our mission is to play a major role in alleviating some of the chronic housing issues we have in Ireland, and people buy into what we’re doing here. Something we like to emphasise when recruiting new staff is that meaningfulness is guaranteed when they come to work for the LDA.”

Forging the Future In addition to delivering 14,000 new homes by 2028, the LDA will shortly publish a new Sustainability Strategy that incorporates national and European targets and lays out how the organisation measures and demonstrates how it meets its targets. The LDA doesn’t simply want to tick mandatory boxes but be a pathfinder for new building methodologies using sustainable materials and technologies such as cross-laminated timber.

An example of this commitment to sustainability is the 597-home development at Shanganagh, which is being built to Passive House Standards and will be the biggest development of its type in Europe. It was developed in collaboration with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

On the strategic side, an essential piece of work for the LDA is looking at its long-term financing model. Housing is expensive to deliver, and capital requirements are considerable. Hence, a conundrum is how to continue powering the affordable housing delivery engine, whether by continued injections of equity capital by the government, investment from the market or a combination of both. In either case, the continued success of the LDA in housing delivery proves the investment case.

Maintaining the strong relationships the LDA has with government departments is hugely important. John wraps up by emphasising how critical close partnerships with local authorities are, “I think the LDA probably wouldn’t exist without its collaboration with local authorities. We must continue to find ways to work together and to be as close as possible so that local authorities can view us as a service provider to them. We’re not competing with them and welcome the opportunity to collaborate with them.”

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Unlocking State Land, Opening Doors to Affordable Homes

€5bn

Capital Capacity (€3.75bn committed to equity and €1.25bn borrowing capacity)

10,000

>20

Capacity (Homes) on state lands being advanced (design and development phase)

State Land plots being advanced by the LDA currently

Maximising the supply of social and affordable homes in a financially sustainable manner, supporting the creation of thriving communities and delivering ongoing positive social impact. www.lda.ie

info@lda.ie

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ESRI Housing Needs Assessment A report on Ireland’s housing needs by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) seeks to provide an in-depth analysis of the housing demand based on projected population growth at the local authority level.

The primary objective of the report is to inform and guide national housing policy, ensuring that future housing supply meets the demographic requirements of the growing population.

The significance of this report lies in its detailed projections and scenarios, which take into account various factors such as mortality, fertility, and international migration assumptions.

By doing so, it offers a comprehensive view of future structural (demographic) housing demand. This information is vital for policymakers to set realistic and achievable housing targets, ensuring that the supply of housing units keeps pace with population growth and changing demographics.

The report presents a range of scenarios to estimate future housing demand, each based on different assumptions regarding household size, the obsolescence rate of the housing stock, and international migration patterns. On average, the ESRI projects a structural housing demand of around 44,000 units per year from 2023 to 2030. This demand is expected to decrease slightly to approximately 40,000 units annually from 2030 to 2040.

The baseline population scenario, which assumes standard migration and demographic trends, estimates housing demand to range between 38,000 and 50,000 units per year for the period 20232030. Under a high international migration scenario, the demand increases, ranging from 41,000 to 53,000 units per year. Conversely, a low international migration scenario projects a demand between 35,000 and 47,000 units annually.

The report highlights significant population growth, with the baseline scenario projecting an increase of 922,000 people between 2022 and 2040, resulting in a total population of over 6.1 million by the end of the period. This growth underscores the urgency of addressing housing needs to accommodate the increasing population.

The ESRI report indicates that housing demand will not be uniform across the country. The Eastern and Midland region, particularly Dublin and the Mid-East, is expected to experience the highest demand. Approximately 46.4% of the housing demand from 2023 to 2030 is anticipated to come from Dublin and its surrounding areas, as well as Cork City and county. Other regions, including Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, and Limerick, will also see higher housing demands relative to their population shares.

Paul Egan, a research officer at ESRI, pointed out the sensitivity of housing demand projections to various assumptions. He noted, “Projections of structural housing demand are sensitive to assumptions including international migration, household size, and the obsolescence rate of the housing stock. Owing to the uncertainty in any projection exercise, the research considers a range of assumptions.”

On average, the ESRI projects a structural housing demand of around 44,000 units per year from 2023 to 2030. This demand is expected to decrease slightly to approximately 40,000 units annually from 2030 to 2040.

Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, acknowledged the value of the ESRI’s research, describing it as a “valuable contribution to our understanding of future housing demand.” He highlighted that the findings are based on data from Census 2022 and international trends but noted the exclusion of latent demand from the projections.

Minister O’Brien stated, “The job of this Government is to provide the homes we need to meet demand. Thankfully supply is increasing with more than 110,000 new homes delivered since 2020, the year this Government took office. We also know the pipeline is extremely strong with work beginning on 52,000 new homes in the past 12 months.”

He further added that the Department would use the ESRI’s findings, along with other analyses, to revise and set new housing targets as part of the National Planning Framework update. Preliminary estimates suggest a requirement of approximately 50,000 new homes annually, with the final targets to be published in October.

Minister O’Brien emphasized the Government’s commitment to overcoming capacity constraints and using all available tools to meet and exceed housing targets. He cited ongoing initiatives, including the overhaul of the planning system, a recruitment drive for construction workers, and exploring avenues for private finance.

The ESRI report provides a critical foundation for understanding Ireland’s future housing needs. With its comprehensive analysis and detailed scenarios, it offers valuable insights for policymakers to formulate effective housing strategies. The Department of Housing’s response indicates a proactive approach to revising housing targets and addressing the challenges of meeting the projected demand. As Ireland continues to experience significant population growth, the findings of this report will play a crucial role in shaping the nation’s housing policies and ensuring that the housing supply aligns with demographic trends.

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Tracking Project Ireland 2040 Progress Minister for Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe has launched an updated Investment Projects and Programmes Tracker and updated the MyProjectIreland interactive map.

The overall level of capital funding is now at an all-time high and €13 billion is being made available in 2024 for investment to provide more schools and homes and to improve hospital facilities and other vital infrastructure that will make a real difference in delivering better public services.

Project Ireland 2040 incorporates a transparent long-term strategy for public capital projects out to 2040. The 10-year period out to 2030 is backed by funding of €165 billion as presented in the National Development Plan 2021–2030. The updated Tracker and Map published on gov.ie/2040 showcase the steady progress being made in the delivery of this substantial Plan.

Speaking at the new Teaching Building which is under construction at the TU Blanchardstown campus. Minister Donohoe said the facility represents an outstanding example of the type of project being developed under the National Development Plan.

“It is only one of many examples of the significant progress that we are continuing to make in the delivery of Project Ireland

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2040. The investment tracker and interactive map provide those living here with a comprehensive overview of the capital projects being delivered or planned for their town, city, county, province and region.

“I am delighted to be able to state that the overall level of capital funding is now at an all-time high. In 2024, €13 billion is being made available for investment to provide more schools and homes and to improve hospital facilities and other vital infrastructure that will make a real difference in delivering better public services.”

This Tracker update, which incorporates user-friendly dashboards, provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments that make up Project Ireland 2040. It focuses

Public Sector Magazine

“The Government

on over 340 projects and 140 programmes with estimated costs greater than €20 million.

The National Development Plan (NDP) is central to delivering the vital infrastructure that is necessary to support our future economic and social requirements, as well as our climate change commitments and Minister Donohoe said the updated Tracker and the Map demonstrate the many successes achieved in the delivery of the NDP. Minister Donohoe also emphasised the importance of the construction and built environment sectors having certainty in terms of the pipeline of work and said that in addition to the €165 billion funding under the NDP, he had reached agreement with Ministerial colleagues on the distribution of an additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts, which are being committing to shovel-ready capital projects up to 2026.

Minister Donohoe also referenced the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024 which was published in April this year and will seek to deal with the country’s capital spending needs into the future if challenges present.

“A €14 billion reserve will be established over the period 2024 to 2030 and this will provide support for the economy in times of exceptional need and help to maintain the record high levels of investment we currently see. This important initiative will serve to protect capital expenditure into future and ensure the continued delivery of important capital projects for the benefit of all our citizens.

“The Government is committed to continuing to deliver

is committed

to continuing to deliver our

ambitions in line

with the NDP –this means more homes,

schools, roads and transport projects

for all our people.”

our ambitions in line with the NDP –this means more homes, schools, roads and transport projects for all our people.”

The MyProjectIreland interactive map was launched in May 2019 alongside the first Project Ireland 2040 Annual Report.

Developed in collaboration with Tailte Éireann, MyProjectIreland is a citizenfocussed interactive tool. By clicking on the map at: www.gov.ie/2040 , members of the public can find updated information on what has been achieved and what is planned for their own local area under the NDP and includes user-friendly mobile and search functionality.

This update expands the coverage of the map to incorporate almost 1,370 projects across the country including schools, social housing schemes, roads, Garda stations, Primary Care Centres and

libraries.

Some projects completed in 2023 under Project Ireland 2040 that are visible on the Map include: n Better regional transport links like the N5 Westport to Turlough road and the Dunkettle Interchange; n Better health facilities such as new ward blocks in Mallow General Hospital and University College Hospital Galway Radiation Oncology Unit; n Improved cultural amenities such as the new libraries in Virginia and Portlaoise; n New schools like the Cherrywood Educate Together Secondary School and n Important projects in the Justice sector such as the Forensic Science Laboratory in Backweston.

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Reviving Vacant Properties A new Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan has been introduced in order to support efforts to turn vacant or derelict buildings into new homes

The government has launched the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan (LAPR), a new initiative aimed at tackling the urgent issue of vacant and derelict properties. This loan, a significant expansion of the existing Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) scheme, provides financial support for the purchase and renovation of homes eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been extremely popular to date with over 8,100 applications received under the scheme so far. According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. over 8,100 applications have been made and around 5,000 have been approved.

The introduction of the LAPR “significantly expands the types and numbers of homes eligible under current local authority mortgage lending rules and with the latest initiative, a first-time buyer who wishes to turn a vacant or derelict property into a new home can now receive a loan to fund both purchase and renovation works.

The provision of incentives to transform vacant and derelict properties into viable homes, is a key plank of the Government’s efforts to increase housing supply and revitalise communities. This initiative aligns with the broader objectives

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of the “Housing for All” policy, which seeks to address Ireland’s housing shortage through a series of measures, including the utilisation of existing but underused housing stock.

The loan is designed to make homeownership more accessible, particularly for those who cannot secure sufficient funding from commercial lenders.

A critical aspect of the Local Authority Property Refurbishment (LAPR) program is the inclusion of a bridging loan, aligned with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

This loan is repayable upon the disbursement of the grant, enhancing the program’s appeal and accessibility for applicants.

This feature significantly increases the applicant’s borrowing capacity, enabling them to finance refurbishment works that might otherwise be inaccessible through traditional bank loans.

Furthermore, it enhances the project’s viability by considering the net cost of the project after accounting for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant when determining project feasibility.

The LAPR scheme will benefit two principal groups, both of whom must meet the existing local authority mortgage eligibility criteria. First, individuals with viable projects but insufficient income to secure necessary bank financing can benefit from the LAPR program, provided they can demonstrate the capacity

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to repay their local authority. Second, addressing housing shortages, including individuals whose projects do not meet the Urban Regeneration and Development bank lending criteria but are considered Fund (URDF). Minister O’Brien recently viable under LAPR criteria can also benefit updated Cabinet on the third call under The LAPR replaces previous the Urban Regeneration and Development restrictions under the LAHL scheme, Fund (URDF) which specifically targeted which only covered habitable homes at addressing long term vacancy and and did not provide for renovation dereliction across cities and towns and at the costs. By broadening the eligibility to provision of residential accommodation. include vacant and derelict properties, The update shows that 1,224 vacant the government is addressing some of the and derelict properties in URDF areas limitations of earlier policies and creating have been identified and approved a more comprehensive system of support under the scheme and that the estimated system for potential homeowners. residential yield from these properties is The LAPR will principally benefit 5,406 homes. first-time buyers or Fresh Start applicants “This Government have placed a who meet specific income criteria and huge emphasis on the regeneration and other eligibility requirements. Principally, rejuvenation of towns all across the the property must qualify for the Vacant country and as I travel around Ireland Darragh O’Brien TD Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Property Refurbishment Grant which it’s heartening to see the impact of the ensure it meets specific standards for various initiatives which are underway renovation and the property must be the to transform towns and cities,” Minister applicant’s primary residence.

O’Brien said.

In addition, applicants must pass a “The most sustainable buildings we standard creditworthiness assessment, have are the ones which already exist demonstrating income sustainability and and Call 3 under the URDF is ensuring repayment capacity. Single applicants can we put them to their best use. The earn up to €70,000, and joint applicants up URDF is evidence of this Government’s to €85,000. commitment to improving quality of Eligible properties must have been life in urban centres, making them more vacant for more than two years and the accessible, inclusive and liveable for all.” post-renovation market value of the The URDF provides local authorities property must fall within specific limits, with funds to purchase and make minor which vary according to location. At improvements to properties, which are up to €360,000, the threshold is highest then sold to private buyers committed to in Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow while bringing them back into use. Purchasers in Cork, Galway, Louth, or Meath, can access additional supports, including the limit applied is up to €330,000. In the Vacant and Derelict Property Clare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Waterford, Refurbishment Grant and SEAI energy Westmeath, or Wexford, the maximum efficiency grants, further encouraging the value post-renovation of the property renovation of vacant properties. cannot exceed €300,000. In all other counties the threshold is up According to Alan Dillon, Minister of State for Housing to €275,000. €142.5M has been allocated across all 31 Local Authorities under The introduction of the LAPR underscores the government’s Call 3 to date. commitment to increasing housing availability and supporting “The URDF has been a real game-changer for our towns homeownership, according to Housing Minister, Darragh and cities, breathing new life into them and making them O’Brien who has long sought Government approval to expand even better places to work in, to live in and to visit. Urban the local authority home loan for first-time buyers. regeneration isn’t a luxury, but a real necessity for the beating “LAPR will help make homeownership a reality for more heart of our urban centres and I’m delighted to see it in action people,” Minister O’Brien said: “The extension of local authority across so many counties,” he said. mortgage lending to the purchase and renovation to all homes The Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant will represents a significant step forward in addressing Ireland’s help people who are struggling to complete the purchase and housing crisis. By enabling the purchase and renovation of renovation of a vacant or derelict property and will give them vacant and derelict properties, the LAPR not only increases the necessary finance to make their project viable. housing supply but also supports first-time buyers and “Under Housing for All, we are committed to make the dream revitalizes communities. Combined with other initiatives of home ownership become a reality for as many as possible. This like the URDF, this comprehensive approach underscores loan provides another pathway to reaching that destination.” the government’s commitment to creating a sustainable and The LAPR complements other government efforts aimed at inclusive housing market.

“The URDF has

been a real game-

changer for our

towns and cities, breathing new

life into them and making them even better places to

work in, to live in and to visit.

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Build 2024 Build 2024 report examines construction sector performance and capacity

There were over 41,000 planning permissions granted for new homes last year, representing an increase of 21% over 2022.

The Build 2024: Construction Sector Performance and Capacity report provides a comprehensive insight and a number of key findings into various aspects of the construction and built environment sector including costs, planning, skills, productivity and sustainability.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the construction sector, summarising levels of investment and funding, planning and delivery, costs, employment and enterprise, skills and transition to BIM and MMC, productivity, and sustainability.

The report also highlights growth in the total investment in construction and housing output of over €31 billion last year and identifies a variety of positive trends which have occurred in the construction sector, including the fact that there were over 41,000 planning permissions granted for new homes last year, representing an increase of 21% over 2022.

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The report also noted that 17,601 homes were upgraded to a BER rating of B2 or above in 2023; an increase of 108% relative to 2022. Meanwhile, construction and construction-related apprentice registrations increased by 3% and 2% respectively in 2023, relative to 2022.

It outlines a number of initiatives that the public and private sectors are undertaking to increase the efficiency and productivity of the construction sector as it responds to the significant challenges of recent years, such as COVID-19 restrictions, inflationary pressures, and supply chain disruptions.

In addition, it points out that inflationary pressure is easing across many construction materials and the number of apprentices in the construction sector exceeded 20,000 in 2023, which will ensure continued growth in the pipeline of skilled workers which are urgently required to meet the demands of

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Ireland’s capital development ambitions.

Launching the report, Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform said that Project Ireland 2040 necessitates a competitive, dynamic and sustainable construction sector capable of delivering new social, economic and climate resilient infrastructure. To achieve this outcome, the construction sector must foster an innovative and sustainable approach capable of meeting the needs of our growing population.

“Build 2024 shows that collaboration between the public and private sectors continues to increase the efficiency and productivity of the construction sector. It is vital to maintain the existing momentum and focus on measures that can assist in removed bottlenecks to delivering on the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan,” he said.

“This report provides an evidence base that will enable approaches such as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to increase the output of the construction industry. Evidence suggests that an MMC approach to building has the potential to increase the speed of delivery of new homes, reduce costs, and advance improvements in quality and energy efficiency.

“Government is investing €165 billion up to 2030 under the NDP, and this report provides a very useful insight into the trends and initiatives underway to increase productivity through innovation and digital adoption to meet our NDP delivery ambitions.”

P J Rudden, Chair of the Construction Sector Group (CSG) - which was established in 2018 in order to ensure regular and open dialogue between Government and the construction sector - also welcomed the Build 2024 Report, which he said builds on our increasing innovation and digital adoption ambition to accelerate delivery in design and construction of projects.

“We have included Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the scope of consulting services for major project values of €100 million and more since 1 January 2024. Over the next four years, BIM requirements will cascade down to projects below €1 million. BIM delivers projects to a higher quality and safety level, reduces waste and can deliver projects in a more timely manner,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hubert Fitzpatrick, Director General of the Construction Industry Federation called for the continued commitment to a timely roll out of infrastructural projects to meet the demands of a growing population.

“The Build 2024 report references the need for a competitive, dynamic, and sustainable construction sector capable of delivering new social, economic, and climate resilient infrastructure”.

“To achieve this outcome, we must continue to foster an innovative and sustainable construction sector environment capable of meeting the needs of our growing population,” he said. “It also references the report by the Housing Commission, which estimates that there is an underlying deficit of between 212,500 to 256,000 homes, highlighting the critical need for timely and integrated delivery of infrastructure to support housing construction.

“With the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) currently reviewing the National Planning Framework, the Construction Industry Federation looks forward to engaging in the public consultation on the draft revision and accompanying technical assessments, to be

17,601 homes were upgraded to a BER rating of B2 or above in 2023; an increase of 108% relative to 2022. published in June 2024.

“It is important to refer to the growth in exports by construction companies, which have increased by 42% since 2020. But so too have costs with double digit growth across the Wholesale Price Index (+32% 2021 – 2023), SCSI Tender Price Index (+30% 2020 – 2023) and the Construction Output Price Index (+23% 2020-2023).

“Construction accounted for 6% of total employment in 2023.

Over 1,300 construction permits were issued in 2023. The CIF welcomed the additional skilled roles added to the Critical Skills Occupation List in December 2023. These roles include – Project Engineer, BIM Manager, and BIM Coordinator/Technician.

“The number of construction enterprises has steadily increased from 2018 to 2021 with 70,459 construction enterprises now operating in Ireland, an increase of 22% since 2018.

“The population of construction and construction-related apprentices totalled 20,219 as of end 2023; an increase of 2,037 (11%) on the end of 2021 population of 18,182. Given the importance of the construction sector to the economic development of Ireland, the challenge of recruiting and retaining people in the industry, and the challenges that will be faced in relation to future delivery of the National Development Plan, continued support for the construction & infrastructure sector is required. Certainty of timeframe for roll out of infrastructural projects to construction stages is critical for maintenance of the momentum and stability within the domestic construction sector.

“The construction industry is driving its sustainability agenda and is looking forward to publication of the ‘Supporting the Circular Economy Transition in the Irish Construction Sector’ in June 2024.”

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Energy Performance of Buildings Rhona Henry Partner | Head of Construction & Engineering Matheson LLP discusses the implications of the recent European Recast Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings and also examines a recent case from the Irish High Court on performance bonds in construction contracts, highlighting the issues that may arise where the beneficiary of such a bond fails to give proper regard to their contractual requirements.

The European Green Deal endeavours to reduce the European Union’s net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, when compared to 1990 levels, and to make the Union climate neutral by 2050. Integral to achieving this goal is the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Recast (the EPBD), which aims to fully decarbonise EU buildings in line with the 2050 deadline. This commitment by the EU reflects the fact that around 40% of energy consumed in the EU is used in buildings. Consequently, reforming the ways in which buildings are heated, insulated, and ventilated are crucial to reducing energy consumption and ensuring a zero-emission, fully decarbonised building stock.

As of 2024, 85% of EU buildings were constructed prior to 2000 and, amongst those, 75% have a poor energy performance. Their sustainable retrofitting and renovation is thus critical to ensuring that European climate goals are met.

The EPBD finally came into effect on 28 May 2024 and Ireland now has until 29 May 2026 to transpose it into domestic law. The EPBD seeks to decarbonise building stock by increasing the rate of building renovations, reducing energy consumption through sustainable retrofitting, and promoting the uptake of renewable energy in both existing properties and new-builds. While the

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EPBD sets out clear targets as to the results that need to be achieved (zero emissions), member states do, however, have significant discretion in certain areas as to how to achieve the Directive’s goals.

Zero-Emissions Buildings “Zero-emissions buildings” refers to buildings with a very high energy performance, requiring Rhona Henry Partner | Head of Construction & Engineering Matheson LLP zero or a very low amount of energy and producing zero on-site carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

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According to the Technical Guidance Document L 2021 of the Building Regulations, the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby.

While ambitious, endeavours to decarbonize all new building stock from 2030 onwards are key to achieving climate neutrality and supporting energy grid flexibility. Under the EPBD, all new buildings publicly owned must be zeroemissions buildings by 2028 and all other new buildings must be zero-emissions buildings by 2030. Scope has been given to allow for possible exemptions, but such exemptions remain to be properly defined.

Type of stock

for the renovation of the rest of their building stock by 2040 and 2050. Provision has also been made for certain categories of building to be exempted from energy standards, notably buildings of historical or architectural merit, buildings used as places of worship, and holiday homes.

Type of stock Non-residential (commercial) buildings

Zero-emissions timeline

New-builds publicly owned

1 January 2028

Type of stock

All (other) new-builds

1 January 2030

Residential buildings (exemptions apply)

Minimum Energy Performance Standards The Directive also mandates the gradual introduction of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (“MEPS”) for nonresidential buildings, which will ensure that buildings do not exceed a “maximum” energy performance threshold. By 2030, 16% of a member state’s worst performing commercial buildings will need to be renovated to make them compliant with MEPS, a figure which rises to 26% by 2033. Member states have more discretion to choose the tools by which they achieve the required improvement of the residential building stock, such as MEPS, technical assistance and financial support measures.

However, national trajectories should comply with the intermediate, five-year milestone for the decrease in the average primary energy use of the member state’s residential building stock of 16% by 2030 and of 22% by 2035. In achieving this goal, at least 55% of the decrease must be attained through the renovation of the 43% worst performing residential buildings.

Thereafter, it is up to each state to establish specific timelines

% that must be MEPS compliant

Deadline

16%

1 January 2030

26%

1 January 2033

% decrease in the average primary energy use

Deadline

16%

1 January 2030

20-22%

1 January 2035

At least 55% of this figure must be attained through the renovation of the 43% worst performing residential buildings.

Energy Performance Certificates (“EPCs”) across the EU Another key change brought about by the EPBD is its commitment to streamlining the energy performance certificates used in member states. Currently, the Irish BER certificate operates in this jurisdiction. Similar grading systems exist across member states, but they are country-specific. Differing approaches have resulted in a diverse set of instruments which vary in terms of scope and available information.

Consequently, some systems have failed to achieve adequate levels of acceptance and market penetration. An EU wide EPC will ameliorate some of these issues, introducing a common template that will enable buildings across the European jurisdiction to be easily compared on a single scale of energy

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While the EPBD is ambitious in what it hopes to achieve, it lays a sound foundation for the implementation of effective climate action strategies at national levels. performance. This will allow for greater transparency across the EU in lending, investment, letting and purchase decisions.

In terms of scope, it will operate similarly to Irish BER certification. Buildings will be graded on a scale of A-G, with ‘A’ corresponding to zero-emission buildings and ‘G’ corresponding to the very worst performing buildings in the national stock.

‘A+’ will correspond to buildings with a maximum threshold for energy demand which is at least 20% lower than the maximum threshold for zero-emission buildings and generates more renewable energy on-site annually than it requires.

Other key goals In pursuit of the 2050 deadline for total building decarbonisation, the EPBD mandates that member states create a roadmap regarding the phasing out of fossil fuels in heating and cooling by 2040. Similarly, member states must also ensure that new-builds are designed to be solar-ready and fit to host rooftop photovoltaic or solar thermal installations at a later stage without the need for costly structural interventions.

This requirement comes into effect for all new public, nonresidential buildings with a floor area larger than 250 m2 by 31 December 2026 and continues gradually for all other public, non-residential buildings from 31 December 2027.

From 31 December 2029, all new residential buildings must be solar-ready. In addition, the EPBD also provides a number of measures to increase the amount of electric vehicle charging points and bicycle parking spaces in urban infrastructure. With EVs becoming ever-more present on our roads, the EPBD aims to remove barriers to the installation of recharging points and make the ‘right to plug’ a tangible reality.

Conclusion While the EPBD is ambitious in what it hopes to achieve, it lays a sound foundation for the implementation of effective climate action strategies at national levels. Emissions from the manufacturing of materials, transportation, construction, maintenance and deconstruction of buildings, as well as the emissions linked to their ‘use phase,’ are vast. Making sustainable decisions about efficient building practices, materials and their energy consumption is thus critical to achieving zero-emission targets. Furthermore, the Directive reflects the desire by both investors and occupiers to invest in and occupy buildings that are energy efficient and sustainable. From a social and cost-benefit

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perspective, there is an ongoing “flight to quality” by companies who want to occupy buildings with excellent green credentials that reflect their employees’ wants and ESG commitments.

Consequently, failure by property and portfolio owners to update, retrofit and redevelop their old, energy-inefficient buildings may result in them becoming ‘stranded assets.’ These are properties which are exposed to the risk of early obsolescence because they will not meet future market expectations or regulatory efficiency standards under the EPBD. As a result, while the cost of carrying out retrofit or redevelopment works can be high, the cost of doing nothing may be considerably more as the EPBD takes on a more substantive form in Irish legislation.

Calling Performance Bonds | Contractual Requirements Are Key This case1 relates to the construction of a residential housing unit whereby Gembria Limited employed MDY Construction as the contractor in the unit’s development. As is often the case, MDY were required to provide a performance bond as performance security in favour of Gembria at the outset.

Clause 1 of the bond provided that if Gembria terminated MDY’s employment, the Surety would pay them the amount for which MDY was liable under Clause 33 of the Building Contract. Clause 33(b) of the Building Contract provided that, if an examiner was appointed to MDY, Gembria was entitled to terminate their employment. Clause 33 further provided that, in that event, Gembria would employ and pay another contractor to complete the works. No further payment would be made under the Building Contract until after completion of the works. After completion, the architect was required to certify the amount of the expenses properly incurred by the employer to completion.

Clause 33(c)(iv) provided that if that amount, added to the money paid to MDY before termination of the Building Contract, exceeded the amount which would have been payable on due completion of the Building Contract by them, the difference was to be a debt payable to Gembria by MDY. If that total amount transpired to be less than the Building Contract price, the difference would be a debt payable by Gembria to MDY. Midway through construction, an examiner was appointed to MDY. Gembria terminated their employment as per Clause 33, appointed a new contractor and sought to call on the performance bond to recover the losses they had incurred.

1

Gembria Ltd v Amtrust Europe Ltd [2024] IEHC 188.

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However, the High Court dismissed their proceedings against the Surety seeking summary judgement, issuing a decision that reinforced the importance of precise compliance with contractual requirements. The Court found in favour of the contractor on a number of grounds.

In pursuit of the 2050

Unconditional or conditional bond?

mandates that member states

In the proceedings brought by Gembria, Gembria argued that the bond was an ‘unconditional’ bond that gave rise to an automatic liability to pay them. However, the Court rejected this argument, holding that there was no language contained in the bond that resembled anything of a ‘demand guarantee.’

They found the bond to be interdependent on the operational provisions of the Building Contract itself. Further, they found the bond to be conditional on ‘if’ certain things occurred by reference to the Building Contract, notably that if the contractor’s employment was terminated under Clause 33 and if they were then found to be liable for a debt. While the Court found it not to be incumbent on Gembria to first pursue MDY for the debt identified pursuant to Clause 33, it did not mean that the ‘debt’ did not have to be first established in accordance with the formula stipulated.

create a roadmap regarding

The Architect’s Certificate Clause 33(c)(iv) required the architect to verify the completion accounts and to certify the expenses incurred by Gembria.

The Court accepted the Surety’s argument that this had not occurred because Gembria’s claim was based on estimated rather than verified completion accounts. They found various issues with the Architect’s Certificate.

Firstly, it was called an ‘Overarching Certificate of Practical Completion,’ a document for which no provision was made anywhere in the Building Contract. It also certified expenses incurred by the employer by all three contracting parties, including MDY, who had been involved in the building process. However, the certificate was required to

deadline for total building decarbonisation, the EPBD

the phasing out of fossil fuels in heating and cooling by 2040. certify expenses properly incurred by the employer only after termination of the MDY Building Contract, which it did not do. In making their decision, the Court found that the document relied upon in these kind of proceedings must ‘clearly and unambiguously appear’ to be a physical expression of a certifying process, with regard to its ‘substance, form and intent.’ Whilst they underlined a reluctance to criticise documents issued by an architect merely because they may not use precise language, they qualified this latitude by refusing to treat as due compliance with contractual requirements documents which do not so comply. The Court found that the Architect’s Certificate was not a certificate which had binding effects for the purpose of Clause 33.

In conclusion, the Court held that the bond provider had a real and bona fide defence and ought to be granted leave to defend. The application for summary judgement was thus refused. While Gembria did not have to bring a claim in arbitration against MDY before calling on the bond, this did not relieve them of their obligation to properly establish debt due by the contractor in accordance with Clause 33. The Court’s decision is notable for its clear emphasis on the importance of having careful regard for contractual requirements.

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Office buildings

Surety Bonds Enables Confident Construction Colm McGrath, MD of Surety Bonds, the leading bonding authority in Ireland, underscores the company’s unique approach to fostering trust between clients and brokers, which aids the seamless execution of public sector construction projects.

A surety bond is a particular type of contractual promise that one party (known as the obligee) will be paid a sum of money by the second party (known as the principal) if they fail to fulfil the contract terms. The surety provider making the guarantee on behalf of the principal is generally an insurance company.

However, a surety bond differs from an insurance policy since

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it involves three parties in the agreement (the bond beneficiary, the contractor and the surety bond provider) rather than two.

Unlike bank guarantees or credit lines, a surety bond allows a contractor to free up working capital while giving the bond beneficiary the confidence that they can recoup some money if the contractor fails to meet the contract terms.

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“Our assessment protects the project. If the contractor fails to get a bond, the public sector body will look at the second or third preferred tender from a contractor who may have greater financial expertise. That tender may be a little more expensive; however, the contractor will have the financial capacity and the capability to deliver on the project and finish it to the expected quality.”

Surety Bonds was established in 2012 by Colm McGrath and is Ireland’s only specialist surety broker. With a head office in Carrick on Shannon, County Leitrim, the company provides a wide range of bonds and guarantees and specialises in performance obligation bonds, a standard requirement for large construction contracts. The company acts as an intermediary in the bonding process, representing a large selection of regulated and rated surety bond providers and is well-placed to assess which type of bond best meets the client’s needs.

Surety In Public Sector Construction Projects Public sector bodies are usually the obligees or beneficiaries of a surety bond, having contracted a private sector company to complete the work on an infrastructure project. It’s not unusual to evaluate 3 or 4 contractors’ tenders as part of the procurement process, and these companies would be required to obtain a bond.

While projects of all sizes, from large-scale development of hospitals, schools, and transportation infrastructure to mid- and small-scale refurbishments of existing structures, require bonding, the smaller projects are where the public

sector most indirectly benefits from the deep expertise of the Surety Bonds team.

Mid- to smaller-scale projects can attract tenders from smaller construction companies seeking to expand their operations by winning a contract that may currently be a stretch for them to deliver. The Surety Bonds team have an approach with companies seeking bonds that ultimately benefit the contractor and the public sector body reviewing the tender.

“Our assessment protects the project. If the contractor fails to get a bond, the public sector body will look at the second or third preferred tender from a contractor who may have greater financial expertise. That tender may be a little more expensive; however, the contractor will have the financial capacity and the capability to deliver on the project and finish it to the expected quality.” Colm explains.

“We drill down into the company finances and the project specifics. We ask the very awkward questions, and we’ll only deal with clients willing to answer those awkward questions and be honest about them.”

There is a tendency in public sector procurement to emphasise the legal side of the process over the financial side. Naturally, the public sector must get value for public money. Still, there is a danger that this imperative can lead

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to selecting the contractor who puts forward the cheapest tender rather than the contractor who is the best fit for the project and most likely to deliver it well.

Colm and his team would welcome more emphasis on the financial assessment of tendering contractors. The public sector, Colm believes, would greatly benefit from a tendering assessment framework that leveraged the expertise within the bonding industry to advise.

Subject Matter Experts Over the past 12 years, Colm McGrath has been exacting about building a team whose expertise extends far beyond sureties. His academic background, with post-graduates in business administration and finance, and Colm McGrath his extensive career experience underline his approach. “I spent 20 years in business development working at the director level.

I considered a business’s strategic direction at a macro level, including its finances.

This issue of surety requirements became apparent to me during that process, and I realised this was something I could fix because it’s solution-driven.”

A year after Surety Bond’s launch, Danny Rankin joined the company, himself a Qualified Financial Advisor with a BBS Hons in Accountancy and a MBS in Economics & International Finance. Colm and Danny executed a culture-shaping shift in the business, from a reactive position of persuading underwriters to offer bonds to suit the client on a projectby-project basis to introducing clients to underwriters up-front and facilitating the building of a relationship between both parties that better suited clients in the construction sector who usually have multiple rolling projects in play and need multiple surety facilities as a result.

Colm and Danny’s deep business and financial backgrounds allowed them to operate at a high level in a consultative and advisory capacity. Surety Bonds forged its mission statement during this time: Our role is to help your organisation make lifelong connections.

Since its early years, Surety Bonds has grown but remained true to its ethos of leveraging its team’s senior business and finance backgrounds to be trusted advisors in forging relationships between clients and underwriters that result in successful surety bonding.

One of the critical

differentiators for Surety Bonds, and one of the aspects of the business

that has made it

Ireland, is the level of trust built up

with clients and underwriters.

One of the critical differentiators for Surety Bonds, and one of the aspects of the business that has made it so successful in

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The Howden Advantage

In early 2024, Surety Bonds was pleased to announce that Howden had acquired it. This leading global insurance group has operated in 50 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand since 1994. It handles $35bn of premiums on behalf of clients.

“It is a great fit culturally, and there’s a lot of collaboration.” Colm remarks about the partnership. “Howden has a big surety team in the UK, and they bring extended knowledge on the commercial side, having a banking team, a mining team, and a renewables team. That expertise allows us to expand our service offering and extend into sectors such as renewables, where we anticipate growing demand due to large off-shore wind and other projects coming to Ireland in the next 12 to 24 months.”

Other areas benefiting from Surety Bonds’ service offerings include Tax Warehouse and Duty Deferment Bonds for the drinks and logistics sectors, Maintenance Bonds in the aviation industry, and EPA-approved On-demand Bonds and Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Bonds in the waste industry.

Becoming part of the larger, global Howden group has allowed Surety Bonds to enjoy the best of both worlds, continuing to provide specialised and tailored services to its client base in Ireland whilst tapping into Howden’s extended commercial sector knowledge.

so successful in

Trust In Surety

Ireland, is the level of trust built up with clients and underwriters. Colm attributes this to the fact that; “We’re very frank with our clients.

During the first meetings, we often tell the client that there’s no guarantee that we’ll be able to help them. But if they work with us and give us warts and all, then we can assess whether the market will be open to dealing with them. And if we believe it is, we put the best-case scenario forward to the underwriters.”

This trust built by frank honesty gets cemented in annual meetings Surety Bonds facilitates between clients and underwriters where lasting relationships are forged. Confidentiality is also crucial to trust, and Colm illustrates this when he points out that all his team’s clients in a particular sector compete with each other.

However, their clients completely trust Surety Bonds with information of a level of detail that could significantly alter the outcome of a tendering process should it become known to a competitor.

“The client has to trust us. Everything we do is highly confidential, and we’ve earned that trust with our clients over our 12 years as a company.”

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Renewable Energy - Wind, Sun and Water

Challenges And Future Opportunities Ireland will enjoy a construction boom over the next ten years, although the challenging global economic and geopolitical climate has changed the present construction landscape. The development of new office complexes in Ireland peaked around 2001 and has experienced cyclical peaks and troughs since then. The combined effect of increased hybrid working patterns, and the economic downturn has led to an office vacancy rate in Ireland in the region of 15% and a dampening of this type of development.

At the same time, public sector investment in affordable residential housing has increased, with entities such as the Land Development Agency facilitating the freeing up of state-owned land for building. The undersupply of residential stock across the rental, owner-occupier, student and social housing tenures is a key issue for the Irish economy. Therefore, developments of this nature, both public and private sector-funded, are driving the construction industry and its need for surety bonds.

Challenges inevitably accompany opportunity. In the construction industry, the challenges are high inflation, rising materials and labour costs, and higher interest rates. The UK, particularly, has experienced a turbulent period with construction firms liquidating regularly, leading to more claims on the surety market and a more conservative approach from the providers.

Although the Irish market is strong and has not suffered like

the UK, surety bond providers have signalled that there will be no further reduction in rates. They are applying the same caution in Ireland as in the UK market. This change of approach by the surety providers presents a challenge that Colm and his team are rising to.

“We have to do a lot more work and persuading now to make sure that the underwriters understand the macro climate here in Ireland. Then, on the micro side, we need to give the underwriters confidence in the client and their ability to manage their risks appropriately.”

Every company faces the challenge of keeping ahead of the market, but Surety Bonds approaches it confidently.

“We’re a small and very experienced company, so we’re agile. We are constantly communicating with our providers about how they see the market and what we need to do to adapt to enable our clients to benefit from that,” Colm explains. “We adapt very quickly, and we help our clients adapt. As soon as we see something happening in the market, we start applying it across the board.”

It is an exciting time for Colm and the wider Surety Bonds team, which welcomes the opportunity to expand and diversify over the next few years and grow the business within the wider Howden family. They also welcome the opportunity to work with the public sector and their contractors to advise, guide and ultimately help ensure that projects are finished and delivered to standard.

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Construction Innovation Transforming Ireland’s construction industry with Modern Methods of Construction

Modular construction involves prefabricating sections of buildings in factories before transporting and assembling them on-site. This approach reduces construction time, minimises waste, and improves quality control.

As Ireland faces a growing housing crisis, the construction industry has embarked on a significant transformation through the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). By embracing MMC, which includes modular housing, the sector can revolutionise its approach while enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and affordability.

The modular housing sector represents a significant shift in construction practices, offering numerous advantages over traditional methods. Modular construction involves prefabricating sections of buildings in factories before transporting and assembling them on-site. This approach reduces construction time, minimises waste, and improves quality control.

Government Support for MMC The government, through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has acknowledged the need for greater innovation in the construction sector. The “Housing for All” plan, published in May 2022 and updated in February 2024, underscores the importance of boosting construction productivity and innovation to deliver high-quality,

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affordable housing. The plan adapts successful toolkits from internationally facing sectors to promote transformation within the domestic construction industry.

The government has expanded the role of enterprise agencies, enabling homebuilders to access schemes and grants that previously supported innovation in other sectors.

These initiatives aim to reduce construction costs, enhance productivity, and foster environmentally sustainable practices.

A pivotal initiative under the Housing for All plan is the establishment of the Construct Innovate Technology Centre, launched in December 2022. Hosted by a University of Galway-led consortium, including Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and University College Cork, the centre received €5m in funding over five years from Enterprise Ireland. The centre focuses on key areas such as productivity, affordability, quality and safety, sustainability, and skills and training.

Construct Innovate aims to accelerate innovation adoption in the construction sector by fostering collaboration between industry and academia. It provides a unique environment for market-focused research and development projects, supporting the transformation of housing construction in Ireland.

As part of the Housing for All update, the government

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The Tasc report

published a “Roadmap for Increased Adoption of Modern Methods of Construction in Public Housing Delivery.”

This roadmap emphasises the need for government leadership in adopting advanced and efficient construction methods. It outlines a comprehensive plan to facilitate the continuous flow of high-quality innovations in residential construction.

The roadmap for increased adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) outlines several key recommendations aimed at transforming Ireland’s construction industry. One primary recommendation is the expansion of Design and Build procurement approaches. This strategy is intended to facilitate greater utilisation of MMC in the delivery of social and affordable housing.

By adopting this procurement method, the government aims to streamline the construction process, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

In an effort to rapidly address the housing shortage, the roadmap proposes accelerating the delivery of over 1,500 new social homes using MMC systems during 2023 and 2024. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce construction times, cutting the typical project duration from 18 months to 12 months. Such a reduction in construction time not only addresses urgent housing needs but also results in considerable cost savings.

The roadmap also emphasises the importance of supporting local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in acquiring sites specifically for MMC-focused developments. By facilitating access to appropriate sites, the government aims to encourage the adoption of innovative construction methods and ensure that MMC becomes a mainstream approach in public housing delivery. This support is crucial for overcoming barriers to entry and promoting the widespread use of MMC. Standardising residential construction design is another critical recommendation highlighted in the roadmap. Referring to the Design Manual for Quality Housing, the government aims to create a consistent framework that ensures highquality and efficient construction practices across the industry.

Standardisation is essential for achieving uniformity in construction quality.

Addressing the skills gap in the construction sector is another priority identified in the roadmap. The development of accredited training programs for construction professionals is recommended to ensure that the workforce is well-equipped to implement MMC. These training programs will provide the necessary skills and knowledge to utilise MMC effectively, and enhance the overall capability of the industry.

Several critical measures have been identified to support the increased adoption of MMC. One such measure is the accelerated delivery of new social homes overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in collaboration with local authorities. This initiative is projected to reduce construction

times significantly, thereby addressing housing shortages more rapidly and costeffectively.

The roadmap also highlight the importance of standardisation and training.

It calls for the development of training programs for both construction professionals and Building Control Authorities to address knowledge gaps related to MMC. By equipping the workforce with the necessary skills, the government aims to ensure the successful implementation of MMC across the construction sector.

Enhancing industry competitiveness is another key focus of the roadmap. Engaging with Enterprise Ireland’s “Built to Innovate” program is recommended to boost the MMC construction supply chain. Additionally, leadership development training will be provided to strengthen company capabilities in areas such as change management and financial management.

Finally, the move to MMC supports national policy objectives related to sustainability and the circular economy. MMC methods contribute to more sustainable construction practices by reducing waste both on and offsite. This alignment with broader environmental goals underscores the multifaceted benefits of adopting MMC in Ireland’s construction industry.

highlights

several strategic

recommendations to bolster the adoption of

Modern Methods of Construction

(MMC) in Ireland, addressing

both industry

challenges and sustainability goals.

The MMC Working Group Established in 2016 by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), the MMC Working Group comprises member companies from various sectors, including housing, specialist M&E, civil engineering, modular manufacturers, and general contracting. The group’s objective is to advance the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Ireland, Martin Searson, CEO of Quality Positive Limited and co-author of the MMC report, articulates this shift by stating, “It’s not construction, it’s manufacturing.”

The organisations latest, the second in a trilogy of reports on MMC adoption aims to identify the key market requirements necessary to drive broader adoption and implementation of MMC in both domestic and export markets.

The report addresses the barriers to adoption and highlights the importance of making construction as controllable and predictable as manufacturing, with cost and scheduling certainties that reduce variability in the fabrication and assembly process.

MMC report identifies several challenges with traditional construction methods, including skills shortages and rising costs.

To address these issues, the report proposes establishing an MMC demonstration park and a research and innovation center, creating testing facilities, advancing education and training, developing certification systems, and supporting Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) installation. A significant change in mindset is essential, according to Searson, with a strong emphasis on offsite construction as the primary strategy.

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The report also highlights the necessity for upfront investment and collaborative partnerships in MMC contracts. The adoption of MMC is driven by the need for time-to-market and cost certainty. Additionally, skills development is crucial, with a particular focus on training in mechatronics, data analytics, and smart city development to meet future industry demands.

Martin Searson highlights the transformative potential of MMC in the Irish construction sector and emphasises the need for infrastructure and certification systems to drive widespread adoption. He points out that the shift to a manufacturing model will require upfront investment and new risk-sharing models between clients and the industry. Traditional monthly or staged payment methods are insufficient for MMC, necessitating closer collaborative partnerships.

Searson also references the volumetric challenges faced by Ireland’s small market. Without a wide-scale shift by clients to embrace MMC, there will be insufficient demand to support the nascent MMC supply chain and sub-supply sectors. He notes that while there are hopeful signs with increased client demand for modular solutions, the industry needs a sustained commitment to ensure its growth and contribution to national goals.

Education and training are paramount to meet the skills required for MMC. Searson emphasises the importance of training in mechatronics, data analytics, and smart city development, highlighting the need for a deep understanding of the skills necessary for MMC. Training programs must encompass everything from one-day continuous professional development courses to second- and third-level courses in universities and institutes of technology.

Furthermore, Searson advocates educating children at secondary level about the new opportunities in the industry, including apprenticeships, digitalisation, and offsite manufacturing (OSM). This comprehensive approach to education and training is essential for preparing the workforce for the new world of MMC. “We need to educate and train people for the new world of MMC. It could be one-day continuous professional development courses or discipline-specific courses on MMC for design staff, and we’ve been asked to develop programmes for those. Or, it could be second- and third-level courses, which have been requested too.

We need much more training at third level,” he says.

“We also need to educate children at secondary level to show them the new opportunities the industry offers them in terms of apprenticeships, digitalisation, OSM and beyond, going all the way up to level-nine qualifications in universities and institutes of technology. There are exciting opportunities in the industry for everyone, and we need to get that message out.”

“We also need to build awareness of MMC solutions, technologies, risk-sharing mechanisms, new forms of contract, and emerging new materials,” he explains. “This is a disruptive process, and it will squeeze traditional linear supply chains.

Companies will need to move to more collaborative models to address that. And that will require particular skillsets as well.”

Searson highlights that the key drivers for the adoption of MMC are time to market and cost certainty. While sustainability is not yet a primary factor, it is expected to become more important in the coming years as the industry moves towards the circular economy and addresses sustainability and labour shortage issues through smart, modular construction.

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“The industry is growing substantially, and the people in it want to respond to housing needs. They want to help achieve the objectives of the Housing for All strategy. But again, it’s all about throughput. The industry needs commitment from clients that the demand will be there for their products and services,” he says.

Tasc Report In a bid to address Ireland’s housing crisis and meet its climate objectives, the economic and social think tank Tasc, along with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), recently urged the government to spearhead the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). A report c0-published by Tasc and CIOB highlights several critical areas where the government can lead the charge in adopting MMC. One of the main recommendations is for the state to use its direct-build social housing programme to stabilise demand for MMC. The Tasc report highlights several strategic recommendations to bolster the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Ireland, addressing both industry challenges and sustainability goals. One of the primary recommendations is stabilising demand for MMC through government intervention. The sporadic and volatile nature of demand for MMC has led to multiple business collapses in the UK, undermining industry confidence. To mitigate this, the report suggests that the government should commit to directbuild social housing projects. By doing so, the state can provide a consistent and reliable demand for MMC, fostering a more stable market environment that encourages investment and growth within the sector.

Another critical recommendation is the reassessment of height restrictions on the use of combustible materials, particularly timber. Currently, regulatory constraints limit the use of timber in construction, despite its sustainability benefits.

Timber frames, which can be prefabricated off-site, are not only more sustainable but also help in carbon sequestration.

Adjusting these restrictions would allow greater use of timber, aligning construction practices with environmental goals and promoting MMC technologies that rely on sustainable materials.

The report also advocates for linking the taxation of construction materials to their embodied carbon content.

This recommendation aims to promote the use of sustainable materials over carbon-intensive ones like concrete. By imposing higher taxes on materials with higher embodied carbon, the government can incentivise the adoption of greener alternatives.

While the potential benefits of MMC in terms of speed and sustainability are clear, the report underscores the importance of carefully considering cost implications. Initial investments in MMC technologies can be substantial, and market conditions can vary widely. Therefore, while MMC can reduce delivery times and enhance sustainability, the cost benefits are not always straightforward. The report advises a thorough costbenefit analysis for each project, ensuring that decisions to adopt MMC are based on a comprehensive understanding of both immediate and long-term financial impacts.

Meanwhile, The Department of Housing is embracing MMC to tackle the housing crisis and is aiming to deliver approximately 1,800 social homes using rapid-build, prefabricated technologies over the next two years. This

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The government has launched several significant initiatives to promote the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in social housing projects. Central to these efforts is the establishment of a €100m fund aimed at alleviating local authority loans on sites earmarked for social housing using MMC. approach is expected to reduce delivery times from 18 to 12 months and generate significant cost savings.

The government has launched several significant initiatives to promote the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in social housing projects. Central to these efforts is the establishment of a €100m fund aimed at alleviating local authority loans on sites earmarked for social housing using MMC. This initiative includes a substantial refund of €94 million in land debt across 26 sites, contingent on local authorities adopting MMC technologies. This financial support is designed to reduce the fiscal burden on local authorities, facilitating the development of new social housing projects with modern, efficient construction methods.

In a strategic move to streamline the construction process and reduce costs, the Department of Housing has identified 35 sites across 12 local authorities for development using prefabricated technologies. This initiative is expected to significantly cut down on both construction time and onsite labour, addressing two of the most pressing issues in the traditional building process. By leveraging prefabricated technologies, the government aims to deliver housing solutions more rapidly and efficiently, ultimately meeting the urgent demand for social housing in a sustainable manner.

Parallel to the initiatives in the housing sector, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has embarked on a transformative €325 million program to build two elective hospitals and additional wards through modular construction. This ambitious program includes the provision of 1,500 new beds at approximately 18 hospital sites, addressing the critical need for increased healthcare capacity. Modular construction is at the heart of this initiative, enabling quicker delivery of healthcare facilities while allowing for future expansions to meet evolving healthcare demands.

A standout feature of the HSE’s modular construction program is the use of standardised building designs, which offer significant efficiencies. These standardised designs ensure that the new modular buildings can be rapidly and flexibly deployed, aligning with the HSE’s goals of improving healthcare infrastructure swiftly and efficiently. By adopting a standardised approach, the HSE can maintain high quality across all new constructions while benefiting from the cost and time savings associated with modular construction.

The rollout of this extensive healthcare construction program will occur in three distinct phases, with each phase focusing on providing new beds across six hospitals. This phased approach allows the HSE to manage resources effectively and ensure that each phase is completed successfully before moving on to the next. By spreading the construction

over multiple phases, the HSE can adapt to any emerging challenges and incorporate learnings from earlier phases to improve subsequent ones.

The Department of Education has also made a substantial investment in modular classrooms, allocating €282 million over the past year to enhance educational infrastructure.

These modular units are recognised for their robustness and permanence, providing an effective solution to the space constraints faced by schools. This approach is particularly advantageous in accommodating demographic shifts and addressing the need for specialised educational facilities, ensuring that the educational environment remains adaptive and responsive to evolving requirements.

A key aspect of the department’s strategy involves balancing temporary and permanent solutions. While modular units are occasionally deployed as temporary measures, the primary focus is on establishing permanent structures that offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions for schools. This shift is evident in the department’s efforts to significantly reduce long-term rentals of prefabricated units, moving towards more enduring modular installations.

With decades of experience in both the UK and Ireland, Paul Tierney, CEO, MMC Ireland is a pivotal figure in the advancement of modern methods of construction (MMC).

As CEO of MMC Ireland, Tierney is dedicated to aligning government initiatives with the capabilities of Irish MMC manufacturers and contractors, aiming to significantly boost construction output and foster a more sustainable industry.

Tierney’s role involves advising on the alignment of government MMC programs with the expanding capabilities of local manufacturers and contractors. He highlights the readiness of MMC Ireland members to support government goals like Housing for All and Project Ireland 2040. He notes that while the sector is relatively small, the capacity and capability of its companies far exceed current demand. There is a strong willingness among members to build and manufacture for Ireland first, leveraging their extensive experience and expertise.

Tierney emphasises the importance of the government’s role in facilitating MMC through appropriate procurement models and frameworks, ensuring that the industry can continue to deliver faster, safer, and more sustainable projects.

The government’s robust commitment to MMC, reflects a transformative shift towards more efficient and sustainable housing solutions and Tierney and his members are poised to continue their collaborative efforts, ensuring that Ireland’s MMC sector can tackle the housing crisis and move towards a sustainable future.

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Carlow Build Carlow Build is a dynamic, innovative, specialist off-site manufacturer of light gauge steel modular buildings which was established in early 2016.

The company’s core business being the design, manufacture, and installation of modular building structures for both the UK & Irish Construction Sectors.

The company is owned and managed by Enda Byrne & MJ Lomax who are highly experienced in the industry and bring a combined 50 years wealth of experience. The Company’s founders became acutely aware of a gap in the construction services market for, initially, a modular residential building system.

Carlow Build designs and manufactures all modular systems at its state of the facility in the Southeast of Ireland for direct supply and installation by market affiliates and trade partners. The company is well on course to establish itself as a market leader in the provision of modular building systems for the delivery of large scale residential, commercial & departmental buildings.

Carlow Build’s Approach The competitive position is underpinned by the deep technical knowledge and experience of the founder Directors MJ Lomax who has 25 years in the manufacturing industry, and Enda Byrne, a qualified Structural Engineer who spent 20 years in construction and consultancy sectors. The extensive market knowledge and trade connections are reflected in the innovative modular design and service processes which are supported by a very lean and efficient production model, which together

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define a sustainable competitive position. Factory production of modular units is easier, more efficient and cost effective. It facilitates higher levels of quality control than that of traditional on-site construction methods. The production of stock items ensures constant availability. Carlow Build is also highly committed to minimizing the impact of its activities on both the local and global environments. In line with this commitment, they implement carbon accounting and management protocols in accordance with ISO 14064 – ‘Green House gases – Specification with guidance at the organizational level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. Project specific carbon budgets are produced upon customer’s request. Carbon accounting now being a major component of bid analysis by our customers.

Overall, this system affords the Developer/Client the assurance of quality, programme and ease of installation due to the innovative design, factory production techniques and simple connection details for site assembly.

The design and detailing of this system are absolutely critical to its success on every project. A blend of structural steel design, finite element analysis and 3D building information modelling is required on all schemes. This high level of inhouse technical skill provides a truly unique customer experience.

The company’s research and product development team were initially successful in obtaining Irish Agrement Approval and more recently achieved SCI/NHBC approval for up-to 5

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storey residential construction. Their system has also reached patent pending stage in both UK & Ireland.

Innovation The business is highly design and innovation lead. To date the priority has been on developing a core range of modular solutions to meet the specific needs and standards of the water companies and housing developers. Within the factory, process effectiveness and efficiency are being constantly monitored and improved through better methodologies and designs. Over the last 24 months the emphasis has moved to new product design and increased productisation of solutions for residential applications where the potential scope to scale business is significant and sustainable.

The current housing deficit in the market presents real challenges at Government, Local Authority and Private Sector levels.

Availability of good quality affordable development land, restrictive planning procedures, onerous building regulation requirements, conventional & costly delivery strategies & construction techniques mean the landscape for housing delivery will need to be drastically changed and rethought.

Put quite simply, the construction aspect of these projects will now be taken off site to the controlled environs of the factory floor, where quality, innovation and speed of delivery can be much more controlled and anticipated.

A significant portion of Carlow Build’s resources are dedicated

to servicing the requirements of UK & Irish Developers and Local Authorities. Their aim is to quickly establish themselves as key supply chain partners to the large development companies and ensure our new building system is accepted as an industry norm as part of the new approach to delivery.

Production The fully integrated operation in Carlow is accessible to Dublin and Rosslare ports. Production buildings of over 8,000m2 which is ideal for large scale production and graduated expansion. Core functions include design, estimating, NPD, technical lab & QA, LGS-design, production, and logistics. All production is made to relevant British Standards, Euronorms and industry best practice.

At design stage each project undergoes rigorous structural design using cutting edge analysis software and the option of 3D BIM Modelling at both approval and construction stages.

Future Expansion Expanding into larger markets, other than the Ireland is a logical step and is part of Carlow Build’s long-term strategy. Research has confirmed that similar to the UK & Irish markets, significant amounts of technical expertise, accreditations and quality control are essential for new entrants to the Northern European Markets.

For more information: www.carlowbuild.com

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Building Confidence Enabling Scale for Modern Methods of Construction in Ireland To realise fully the benefits of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) we need to increase adoption with a collective approach with early stakeholder engagement, collaborate effectively using the right skills, and adopt a mindset focused on achieving the best outcomes. This article explores key factors in building confidence to use MMC at scale, the necessary conditions to support its widespread adoption and to specify what exactly “collaboration” means when using MMC.

Higher annual housing targets are coming. How do we meet them?

Following the recent publication of the much-anticipated ESRI report1, estimating higher annual housing need ranges, the question is how to augment industry capacity for swifter delivery. While Irish supply has increased meaningfully in recent years, faster than many other European nations2, meeting a higher target at the levels anticipated would require a step change in delivery. Given construction, labour and supply chain constraints, the transformative productivity of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can be a pivotal part of the solution, offering rapid, industrialised production of high quality, sustainable homes at substantially reduced timescales and – if procured at scale – reduced cost. It can revolutionise the delivery of housing, if deployed effectively.

How do we capture the benefits?

Two elements are critical to attain these time, quality, and 1 The ESRI report estimates the annual housing need of 35,000 to 53,300 dwellings on average over the period 2023-2030. https://www.esri.ie/publications/populationprojections-the-flow-of-new-households-and-structural-housing-demand 2 Housing completions per 1,000 of population in Ireland are projected to be the strongest among the 19 Euroconstruct European countries and more than double the overall average. https://www.ey.com/en_ie/news/2024/06/irish-housing-completions-forecastto-be-strongest-among-19-european-countries-ey-euroconstruct

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cost benefits. First, the industry must have the opportunity to demonstrate its capacity to rapidly produce high-quality housing on a financially sustainable basis. Second, there must be an efficient delivery process in place for that housing to be designed, produced cost-effectively and smoothly installed on site.

Higher productivity facilities need investment… and a pipeline to recoup the cost For the first element, a robust pipeline of projects indicating opportunities for MMC to be procured at scale is crucial to catalyse investment in manufacturing capacity. This could be focused on higher premanufactured value categories (1 and 2) that can really move the productivity dial. Only the prospect of consistent demand will allow 1) manufacturers to scale capacity and 2) developers and housebuilders to pivot to greater use of MMC products. Both entail significant investment, the cost of which needs higher order volumes to recoup than currently seen in the market.

Government departments have already taken steps to create that pipeline. The Department of Education has established a volumetric modular schools framework and the regional Design & Build frameworks for social housing, created for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Accelerated Delivery Programme, have a collective budget of

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up to €2.4bn over 4 years. Further MMC-specific or -conducive tenders and frameworks could include the Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency incentivising high productivity MMC and providing the scale of demand that will recoup the investment required.

Additionally, payment terms that better align with MMC’s cost profile – which is more front-loaded than traditional construction, will reduce the strain on manufacturers’ working capital, strengthening their financial standing and building further confidence for procuring authorities to place large orders.

Reimagining the Supply Chain - who needs to do what to whom and when The second element requires an efficient delivery process that works for MMC. This will require adaptation to the process for traditional, employer design-led procurement, such that, across the supply chain, from design to planning, procurement, off-site manufacture and on-site assembly, the right stakeholders engage at the right time.

A closer look at the housing supply chain reveals potential enablers at each stage of the process: Design – Crystallising the performance requirements of the housing being procured, while allowing flexibility in the design itself, is indispensable. It will allow developers to bid for projects using the housing designs and products with which they have the most experience and manufacturers to produce what they can manufacture most efficiently. Procuring authorities who have taken this approach in the past have demonstrated savings of up to 40% on schedule, with fewer variation requests and shorter snagging periods.

The concept of an early design freeze applies to both housing and groundworks. Clients and supporting design teams would need to convene all stakeholders, including utilities providers, to map out all aspects of the site pre-procurement, including the location of access roads, extensions of utilities and connection points. At the same time, flexibility should be maintained on the house designs. So the collaborative work upfront should bring site owners, whether public procuring authorities or developers, around the table with civils contractors and utilities providers, before procurement. If a client is targeting a certain level of PMV or specific solution, they’ll need to work with an informed design team to determine what can work based on the site specifics when drafting the tender.

Planning – It is crucial that the planning approval process pre-tender is not overly prescriptive and is able to foster innovation. The Part 8 planning requirements for Local Authorities as they stand should allow the necessary flexibility, but it has been noted that these are not always applied consistently when planning submissions are reviewed. Seeking the same level of design detail for pre-tender public sector applications as required from the private sector conflicts with the approach of allowing tenderers to propose the solutions they can produce efficiently against the functional and aesthetic requirements. Planning applications for public housing should ideally include basic architectural block layouts, accommodation schedules and indicative levels, leaving room for manufacturers

to finalise the detailed design. A consistent approach could be facilitated by a standardised planning submission process being provided to planning authorities, especially for public housing.

Procurement – The procuring authority and supporting design team should ensure the tender emphasises the performance specifications rather than detailed designs allowing manufacturers to propose appropriate solutions without the need to significantly alter or discard overly detailed designs.

The authority and design team should have the ability to assess the suitability of tendered systems for specific sites, evaluate contractors against specifications, and verify pre-manufactured value. Expertise in MMC integration is key, with the ability to review tenderers’ strategies for interfaces, installation plans, and subcontractor experience to ensure compliance with factory certifications and building control approvals.

Lastly, the clients must be able to carry out financial standing checks tailored to verifying the financial health of MMC manufacturers. This could include assessing their liquidity ratios and leverage metric to determine whether they have sufficient working capital for the duration of the project given the payment terms offered.

Once a contractor is appointed, there should be a further process to work through all design details. Ground works and civils must be aligned with the housing, and an appropriately skilled team should be lined up for assembly, preferably one that is familiar with the unit/systems and their certifications and the requirements to preserve them on site. This post-tender, pre-manufacture process will need collaboration between the client, its design team, the contractor, manufacturer, plus the civils contractor if separately appointed.

Off-site Manufacturers – Beyond producing quality products, it would be valuable to procurement at scale for manufacturers to foster interoperability and standardisation between MMC products, and engage consistently with the information requirements for obtaining Irish Agrément Certificates for products if required. Additionally, proactive engagement with clients outside of tenders – taking early opportunities to showcase products and factory capabilities – will broaden market understanding, ensuring clients’ expectations are well-informed and aligned with offerings.

Onsite Assembly – Groundworks providers must prioritise precision, recognising that MMC tolerates less deviation. Exact alignment is essential for smooth installation and certification, and planning for accuracy saves time, cost, and builds credibility.

Establishing relationships with manufacturers and understanding their products can facilitate collaborative solutions to on-site adjustments and incentivise joint problem-solving.

A note on certifications and insurance Timber frame systems already have their own ISO standard (IS 440). For other innovative construction products, Irish Agrément Certificates are likely the most practicable route to compliance with Building Regulations. Further resourcing for the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is underway to speed the process of obtaining Agrément Certificates.

Insurance also plays a pivotal role in advancing MMC usage, as it enables staged payments that align with manufacturers’ cost profiles and strengthens their financial

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resilience. A deeper understanding of MMC by insurers was highlighted in the recent Inquiry by the United Kingdom’s House of Lords Built Environment Committee3 as helpful to reducing costs through reduced insurance premiums.

Upskilling in the insurance industry and clarity in the certification process will unlock construction stage insurance and be valuable to building scale.

The ecosystem approach in Ireland The approach taken by the Irish Government aims to cultivate the whole MMC ecosystem to support growth. In addition to procurement initiatives, it is addressing the skills, training and knowledge-sharing required throughout the supply chain. This is critical for MMC to be deployed efficiently and its many benefits captured. Supports include technical and management skills training for offsite manufacturers, onsite workers, and upskilling of design teams and clients with respect to stakeholder engagement. In addition to the initiatives such as Construct, Innovate and Build Digital, aimed at developers and manufacturers, work is underway to foster knowledge-sharing among government clients, with trainings and workshops for local authorities to share best practices from peers who have used MMC for public housing under past D&B frameworks.

Collaboration throughout, mindset shift and the courage to champion the best As outlined above, sustained collaboration is crucial throughout the MMC delivery process to plan sites in detail pre tender, deliver groundworks to plan, and then to promptly address and resolve any unexpected challenges when units arrive on site.

At the recent MMC Ireland conference, a major developer cited the rapid construction of healthcare facilities during the Covid-19 3 https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43073/documents/214242/default/

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crisis as exemplifying efficient stakeholder collaboration. The developer recalled how this was accomplished efficiently and to the right standards because, in that time of crisis, all decision makers were in the room together, working with shared purpose.

For MMC, this kind of collaboration often requires a mindset shift — from focusing primarily on defending against potential pitfalls towards a proactive championing of the best that MMC has to offer: high-quality and sustainable housing which can be delivered quickly. And this is housing that people want to live in, and in the case of timber frame buildings, are already living in. MMC lends itself to numerous configurations and housing typologies, including the flexibility to made adaptations as residents age or families grow.

Conclusion To realise the immense benefits MMC may provide, there is a need for collective action to increase adoption. Procurement at scale by Local Authorities, the LDA and AHBs, providing a clear pipeline in terms of number and timeline of projects, will engender the required industry response.

Early design decisions should involve site owners, civils contractors and utilities providers working together on pretender/procurement. During the tender stage, clients and their design teams must ensure proposed solutions are viable for the specific site. Post-tender, all design details would need alignment between the client, their design team, contractor(s), and the manufacturer. Furthermore, there should be an efficient interface with an appropriately skilled assembly team, knowledgeable about the system and related certifications.

The full potential of MMC can be achieved through proactive collaboration of all parties involved, with an eye on the prize of quality, sustainable housing delivered by a resilient, greener Irish construction industry at the pace the nation needs.

To learn more, visit ey.com/ie/Infrastructure

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Carlow build designs and manufactures all modular systems at its state of the facility in the southeast of ireland for direct supply and installation by market affiliates and trade partners.

The company is well on course to establish itself as a market leader in the provision of modular building systems for the delivery of large scale residential, commercial & departmental buildings.

for more information:

info@carlowbuild.com

IRE: +353(0) 1 4378831 UK: +44(0) 207 1646706

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Building Futures

At CPAC Modular, we recognise the positive impact our modular buildings have on the built environment.

Working to the highest ISO safety and quality standards, our team is fully committed to delivering compliant building solutions to meet the current and future needs of our clients.

Using our extensive experience and LEAN principles throughout our business, we create modern sustainable spaces for a variety of uses.

Bright futures are built in our buildings.

www.cpacmodular.com VR Campus

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CPAC Modular Leading through Innovation Innovation has always been in the DNA of CPAC Modular. For the past four decades, they have set new standards in off-site modular construction.

This year alone has seen the launch of two new CPAC Modular offerings: a Permanent Modular System and a Multi-Storey Modular Student Accommodation System.

“CPAC Modular has strategically developed its business by responding to client requirements and advancements in building regulations” according to Managing Director Seán Murphy. This is evident in their substantial investment in fire testing and compliance. Their multi-storey system is suitable for a variety of uses, including education, healthcare, commercial, and residential.

Murphy further stated, “Our constant drive to exceed expectations in everything we do delivers innovation across the whole business – we have aligned our product offerings to focus on meeting public sector clients’ needs for environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient, permanent buildings.”

The Student Accommodation System exemplifies innovation in both sustainable materials and design competencies. “Our accommodation system can go up 10 storeys high in a multitude of floor layouts. Additionally, we offer a variety of architectural finishes to suit urban or rural settings, including traditional finishes” says Mark Whitehead, Construction Director.

Accommodation pods are delivered with all electrics, plumbing, and fittings, including fitted kitchens with

integrated appliances, wardrobe, and storage areas, along with completed ensuite WC and shower rooms. Additionally, the pods can come fully furnished with bed, integrated TV and an ergonomic study area.

Leveraging their investment in the latest technology and compliance, CPAC Modular has identified a need for educational programs about the benefits and possibilities of modular construction. To address this, they have developed a certified CPD course on modular construction suitable for architects, professional specifiers, and clients.

The strength of their senior management team, combined with extensive industry experience, ensures that their projects often lead the market in design, compliance, and sustainability.

To deliver a wide number of projects simultaneously, they have developed an impressive and growing base of over 300 experts and specialists between their in-house team and an approved subcontractor network.

Looking to the future, Managing Director Seán Murphy, with the support of his board, is confident that CPAC Modular will continue to push the limits of innovation, pioneer new systems, inspire future architectural possibilities, and leverage new and emerging technologies to show the world that Ireland can lead the way in sustainable modular construction.

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BIG MAN MODULAR specialist in modular and panelized building. We offer a one stop shop looking after design, planning, with full install and build packages available. We have a dynamic team with a diverse skill set, who are committed to delivering high quality sustainable housing.

BENEFITS Shorter Build Times ‘A’ Rated Homes More Sustainable Homes Construction not Affected by Weather Higher Quality Standard Low running costs Can be Extended easily

087 6176391 023 8893761 info@bigmanmodular.ie

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bigmanmodular.ie

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Modular Beauty Big Man Modular creates amazing, beautiful, well-designed living spaces, from modular and panelised homes to home offices and garden studios, in a fraction of the time of a traditional build.

Big Man Tiny Homes was ƒ by JP Simpson in 2018. After working on many different projects around the world and in Ireland, from bespoke cabins to large-scale housing projects, JP came to realise that people want a lot more freedom in their lives without being tied down to massive debts.

JP’s Business Partner, Niall Lehane, joined the business in 2021, bringing with him over 25 years of manufacturing leadership. Following this, the firm rebranded to Big Man Modular. Niall strongly believes that quality and efficiency run hand in hand, allowing Big Man Modular to design, manufacture and supply energy-efficient, cost-effective, sustainable homes in timescales unheard of in traditionally built homes.

JP explains how the firm works hard to change people’s preconceived ideas about modular homes: “Our main challenge is people’s ideas of what modular/panelised homes are, but once they see the completed homes and talk to existing clients about how happy they are with their home, they soon realise that our SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) build system is far superior to conventional builds.”

JP also lamented the lack of understanding and support from the government and banks in relation to planning and mortgages.

The firm supplies units built using SIP Panels. These units require up to 50% less energy to heat and cool than a conventional home due to superior insulation and air tightness (currently surpassing passive house requirements). Unlike most modular companies, Big Man Modular undertakes 100% customised builds tailored to the client’s needs.

As a company, Big Man Modular’s main aim is to reduce stress for the client. The firm does this by offering a one-stop shop, looking after everything from design and planning to a complete build and installation. The firm can build off-site in its workshop so the time on site is drastically reduced, minimising stress for the client.

Big Man Modular is committed to quality, safety and value for money, offering fully transparent pricing and allowing customers to buy their building at any stage of construction and finish as a self-build if they wish.

The firm takes a collaborative approach, working with the client from initial design and planning to installing a fully furnished new home. The itemised pricing system allows the customer to retain control over their spending.

“Our staff are the backbone of our business”, says JP, “we employ a dynamic team with a diverse skill set. We aim to create a safe, healthy and environmentally friendly workplace and to foster a good work/life balance for employees.”

Big Man Modular won the award for Best Small Business at the West Cork Business and Tourism Awards 2022. JP attributes this to having a small, committed build team invested in the firm’s core values, delivering sustainable, energy-efficient, cost-effective homes.

In addition to its work in the private sector, Big Man Modular is looking at entering the growing social housing market.

The firm has partnered with MMC Eco Homes in the UK, and with this collaboration, the two firms can now supply the Irish Market with up to 300 houses a year.

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Building for the Future Building green, economical and simple Modular Express Ireland Building Net Zero Carbon homes for the future. Greener & more sustainable, constructing higher-quality smart buildings faster and addressing fuel poverty by using solar panels and air-source heat pumps.

We are committed to building warm comfortable homes.

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The Modular Housing Solution Modular Express Ireland new designs for Net Zero in Ireland, United Kingdom, and around Europe

Modular Express Ireland’s decision to enter the Irish market in 2018 was driven by a commitment to revolutionize housing delivery in Ireland and provide a sustainable solution to Ireland’s housing crisis, which is characterized by a severe shortage of affordable housing. This presents a significant societal and economic challenge and has resulted in skyrocketing rents, soaring property prices and a significant escalation in homelessness.

The acute shortfall in housing delivery has persisted for over a decade and the prevalence of traditional construction methods has failed to deliver the sharp increase in output that is required to effectively address Ireland’s housing crisis. Modular Express Ireland’s key mission is to supply high-quality, affordable modular homes that directly address the housing crisis in Ireland while also addressing rising fuel bills. The company’s focus on affordability and sustainability guides its operations.

Founded in 2004, the company is a global leader in off-site manufacturing of high-quality, modular homes and has been inventing, designing, building and delivering modular homes and hotel rooms all over the world since 2004.

Deborah Smyth Project Director, Modular Express Ireland brings over two decades of experience in the land and property

business. As construction output continued to lag far behind demand, she recognized the potential of modular construction to add capacity to the industry and enable faster and cost-efficient home construction. She firmly believes that modular construction can be the solution to Ireland’s housing crisis.

“Traditional construction is not tackling the housing crises, so we believe modular can add capacity to the industry, enabling house builders to build more homes faster, and for less cost,” she says. “Our objective is to supply high-quality affordable modular homes to address the housing crisis and rising fuel bills.”

Modular Express Europe’s extensive track record in modular construction gives the firm a unique advantage. Modular Express Ireland has access to a global network of experts with a long history of successful projects. This knowledge transfer allows the company to contribute to the Irish market’s net-zero carbon targets while providing high-quality housing.

“We want to bring Modular Express Ireland’s approach to building high-quality social value schemes. We can tap into Modular Express Ireland partners around the world looking at various schemes and business models this gives us an in-house information centre of experts with a long track record. We can then bring this knowledge into the Irish market, and their

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knowledge in Europe around meeting net consumption. Their modules are also zero carbon targets”, Deborah continues. designed to be Part M ready, which Modular Express Ireland’s primary facilitates adaptability over the building’s objectives in the Irish market are to lifespan. demonstrate the comfort, warmth, “Building modular homes in the and net-zero carbon capabilities of factory means we can have a lean their modular homes. The firm aims to approach to production,” says Debbie. collaborate with developers and builders “Using Building Information Modelling to supply modules into schemes ready (BIM) we can build to fine tolerances for development. Affordable and social and standard product sizes. A traditional housing remain key targets, with an site has a skip outside full of offcuts of emphasis on enhancing the social value of perfectly good material; another cost that communities. ` can be avoided. Our modular homes are The company’s modular approach 95% completed in the factory, so they can allows for concurrent construction, reducing be deployed rapidly. program timelines and saving on costs. This “Our fabric-first approach means the method ensures both rapid delivery and homes are optimized for energy efficiency, high-quality construction, addressing the through insulation, airtightness, and urgent housing needs in Ireland. All their eliminating cold bridging. This eliminates Deborah Smyth Project Director, Modular Express Ireland homes meet minimum space standards, the need for any oversizing of the heating ensuring comfortable living. These modular system. Our modular homes feature airbuildings can be customized to suit various purposes, including source heat pumps, providing hot water and heat. They can also affordable housing and social schemes. be connected to a communal heating system. “Once the energy “As a new entry to the Irish market, we are looking to use is minimized, we will add photovoltaics to account for the form partnerships with developers and contractors already on primary energy use, and appliance use energy where practical. frameworks to deliver housing,” Debbie confirms.

Eliminating fuel poverty, along with Net Zero is our goal.

“We have modules that can be combined to provide a range “It was important for us to achieve the BOPAS certification of home types from studios to apartments and houses. All to demonstrate that we have a robust system, warranty ready, homes meet the minimum space standards, and our modules and a recognized quality brand. We are now progressing through can be built while the groundworks are carried out reducing the the NSAI Agrément process so that we can show the same programme, and saving on preliminaries, and financing costs.” commitment to quality and de-risk the innovation aspect of our A further cause to celebrate Modular Express Ireland’s entry homes. Adopting BIM has allowed us to be ready for the shift into Irish housing is its strong track record of environmental towards wider BIM requirements across the sector, especially responsibility and its commitment to the fight against climate where public money is funding projects. We need to show how change through its sustainable construction practices. The we will reduce cost and time while increasing quality. company’s exemplary environmental standards, energy“Our objective was to build modules that would meet saving credentials, BOPAS accreditation, and building control future part L targets as we shift towards net zero. The most compliance demonstrate the company’s robust commitment to recent energy crisis has highlighted the need to reduce our sustainability and climate change mitigation. dependency on fossil fuels, and the best way to do that is to Modular Express Ireland’s eco-friendly modular buildings reduce the energy demand. significantly reduce waste, with up to 90% less waste generated “We have designed all our modules to be part M ready as compared to traditional construction methods while its factorystandard. We are living longer so need to make sure all the new based production methods allow for precision construction and housing stock we build is adaptable over the life of the building, eliminate the need for excess materials. and residents can remain in their homes.”

In addition, energy efficiency is also prioritised in Modular Modular Express Ireland’s ultra-comfortable homes boast Express Ireland’s modular buildings and the company’s a range of key features. In addition to meeting or exceeding fabric-first approach places a premium on superior insulation, space standards, they offer enhanced acoustic performance, airtightness, and the elimination of cold bridging. Meanwhile, and feature low-energy heating and hot water systems linked air-source heat pumps provide hot water and heat, and to renewables. They also incorporate non-centralized heat photovoltaics facilitate reduced energy use and align with the recovery ventilation, advanced heat pumps, and thermal company’s goal of eliminating fuel poverty and achieving netstorage. Furthermore, Modular Express Ireland’s homes achieve zero status. the highest Gold Certification from the Irish Green Building Meanwhile, BOPAS accreditation demonstrates the Council’s Home Performance Index. robustness of its system and its commitment to quality. Being The company’s first Irish project; a development of 6 BIM-ready positions them well in an industry increasingly one-bedroom modular homes for the approved Housing shifting toward wider BIM requirements, particularly in Body, Tiglin in the Bluebell area of Dublin demonstrates the projects funded by public money. The company’s modules are company’s impressive credentials and confirms the significant also designed to meet future Part L energy efficiency targets, potential that modular homes can play in addressing the in line with Ireland’s goal to shift towards net-zero energy ongoing housing crisis.

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These homes have been strongly championed by the Chairman of Tiglin, Aubrey McCarthy and Tommy Coombes, the co-ordinator for the Bluebell Community Council, who welcomed Modular Express Ireland’s solution to the housing crisis and commitment to regeneration.

“Modular Homes such as these provide a high standard and a fast response to address the urgent need for housing in Ireland. Our objective is to supply high-quality affordable modular homes to address the housing crisis and rising fuel bills,” said McCarthy.

Notably, these homes are designed to be net-zero carbon, super-insulated, and airtight. They are BOPAS accredited and BIM ready, and utilise renewables such as solar panels, battery storage, and air source heat pumps, they meet stringent building control regulations.

In addition, all apartments in the Bluebell Project achieved an A1 BER rating while Bluebell will also be the first modular construction project to achieve the Green Building Council’s Home Performance Index (HPI) in Ireland, which showcases homes that are built better than minimum compliance to regulations.

“The pandemic did impact our plans for the Irish market, but we used the time wisely and developed our system as you would in the automotive industry, though digital, using energy, and dynamic modelling to interrogate our designs and system under different climate conditions, to ensure it would achieve all the necessary energy requirements “So, Bluebell is our first project in Ireland and our objective is to demonstrate our modular homes are built for comfort and warmth, bringing net zero carbon ahead of targets for the Irish market. we aim to team up with developers and builders to supply modules into schemes that are ready to develop. We also want to be involved in the early stages of design so we can share the efficiencies of our standardised modular approach.

“Affordable and social housing are key targets for Modular Express Ireland as we want to help address the housing shortage through quality and comfort, and all new homes

should add to the social value of the community. We are also committed to the wider environmental impact of new homes so we are aiming to be the first net zero modular development under the Home Performance Index, achieving Gold Certification for our Bluebell scheme.

“Modular Express Ireland wants to show that Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can complement the traditional building sector, so MMC can provide extra capacity to deliver the homes needed. Our Bluebell project will showcase this, and we have a huge interest in the project.”

Modular Express Ireland’s entry into the Irish market in 2018 brings a glimmer of hope to a housing crisis that has plagued the nation for years and their commitment to modular construction, sustainability, and quality has the potential to make a significant impact on Ireland’s housing landscape.

As they continue to collaborate with developers, builders, and partners, Modular Express Ireland’s vision of providing high-quality, affordable, and eco-friendly housing solutions is undoubtedly one that aligns with Ireland’s future housing needs.

HOW MODULAR EXPRESS IRELAND ACHIEVES NET ZERO CARBON n Fabric First: minimise energy losses to the home n Eliminate cold bridging potential n Ready for improved Building regulation demands n Optimise insulation through airtightness and U values n Key to performance is accurate construction n Post-occupancy energy use recorded n When fabric is at its best renewables bring us to net zero n Any construction CO2e is offset.

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Building a Better Galway McDonagh Construction Ltd is an established general building and roofing company operating in Galway City and County. With a proven track record of nearly three decades, Managing Director, Hughie McDonagh, cites client satisfaction as the main reason for the company’s success.

Established in 1991 by the late Joe McDonagh and his son Hughie, McDonagh Construction Limited has developed an enviable reputation for reliability and quality of work in its catchment area and beyond.

Based in Salthill, Galway, the company operates in both the commercial and private sectors and delivers efficient, costeffective, high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Years of experience in the construction industry have given McDonagh Construction an acute understanding of the importance of meeting its client’s needs, no matter the size or scale of the project.

Client satisfaction is the keystone on which the McDonagh Construction business is built, and the company has successfully completed projects from minor works to multimillion-euro projects.

The company’s projects span residential and commercial, from renovations to new builds. With a solid and enthusiastic team dedicated to each project, the commitment to working closely with clients makes each project a success.

A CIF and CIRI registered member, McDonagh Construction counts the Office of Public Works amongst its list of satisfied clients with more than 25 years working with them.

“We carry out a lot of refurbishment work on behalf of the OPW,” Hughie revealed, as well as working with major clients

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including AXA Insurance, NUIG and GMIT, Conor Slack of Tribe Architects and Ruairc O’Tuairisg and Associates Engineers Galway.

The company strives to ensure all personnel and sub-contractors have the appropriate experience, training, expertise and up-to-date equipment to perform their duties to the highest standards.”

McDonagh Construction operates a strict ‘safety first’ policy at all times on-site and is proud of its exemplary health and safety record.

Having met the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic, the company continues to thrive and expand. “Thankfully, we’re busy enough at the moment,” Hughie adds. “We are growing again after the recession and Covid 19 lockdown. We overcame these obstacles, and thanks to our good reputation and solid client base, we have built up our numbers again. We are now at the stage where we are getting into bigger work again, and we look forward to a positive 2023.”

From concept ideas to planning to construction works, McDonagh Construction is a company that can be trusted to assist clients at every stage of each project. No job is considered too small, and the team is happy to help in any way possible.

If it’s high-quality workmanship, commitment and value for money you are looking for, don’t hesitate to give Hughie a call on 086-2428772. McDonagh Construction Ltd has the experience and skills to undertake a wide variety of projects.

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Munster Joinery celebrates 50 years in business Munster Joinery is a family-run business which has supplied windows and doors to Irish homeowners and the construction industry for 50 years.

Headquarters: 960,000 sq ft production facility in Ballydesmond Co. Cork, Ireland.

From small beginnings in 1973, supplying the local Munster market, the company has grown from strength to strength. It is now a leading supplier to Ireland, Northern Ireland and UK markets as well as supplying Passive House windows to the US market. Today windows and doors are manufactured at a 960,000 sq ft production facility in Ballydesmond Co. Cork and at a 360,000 sq ft facility in Warwickshire in the UK. The company employs more than 2700 people.

The company’s growth has been based on its commitment to meeting the needs of the consumer both in terms of service and product design and innovation. Providing an all in service, from on-site survey to installation and lifetime after sales service, together with the shortest lead times in the industry has proved to be a unique market offering. For homeowners, builders and construction professionals alike the impact of this on build efficiency is very welcome.

Over the decades the company has expanded its product ranges to embrace market trends and technological improvements. The product ranges available include uPVC, aluminium and AluClad, all in double glazed or triple glazed options. Today’s window is a far cry from the single glazed timber window which was the market leader 50 years ago.

The modern window serves a myriad of functions providing

daylighting, thermal insulation, solar gain, ventilation, weather tightness, security, safety and structural stability.

Munster Joinery has risen to many challenges which faced the industry including recession, regulation changes, the energy crisis and climate change. The company has optimised the thermal performance of all their products. Munster Joinery offers the lowest U-value windows and doors available on the market with eight window systems certified by the Passive House Institute in Germany. Many energy excellent projects throughout Ireland, the UK and the US have used these products to achieve the Passive House dream.

As well as providing energy efficient products Munster Joinery is conscious of the need to do business sustainably.

The firm’s operational energy needs are largely met by green solutions with 4.2 MW on site wind generation and a CHP plant capable of outputting 2.8 MW electrical and 12 MW thermal. A waste management programme is in place to reduce, reuse and recycle waste wherever possible with the aim of eliminating waste to landfill. Green Procurement practices are applied to source materials with low environmental impact.

While celebrating 50 years in business Munster Joinery looks forward to serving the ever changing needs of the consumer into the future.

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Galway Rises Development and future vision for Galway

Project Ireland 2040 highlights the significance of Galway in fostering balanced regional development

Galway, one of Ireland’s most vibrant cities, is experiencing significant growth and transformation under the strategic framework of Project Ireland 2040. This ambitious plan, with a budget of €116 billion, aims to prepare Ireland for an additional one million people and 660,000 more workers by linking planning and investment in a balanced manner across rural and urban areas. The development and future vision for Galway are integral to this national initiative, with numerous projects and investments poised to enhance its role as a key regional city.

Project Ireland 2040: Galway Project Ireland 2040 highlights the significance of Galway in fostering balanced regional development. Central to this initiative are several key measures aimed at transforming Galway into a more sustainable, accessible, and culturally vibrant city. City regeneration projects are at the forefront, focusing on revitalising urban areas to enhance livability and sustainability. These projects are designed to breathe new life into the city, creating spaces that are both functional and attractive for both residents and visitors.

A robust transport infrastructure plan is another critical component, featuring major projects like the proposed Galway ring road, the Moycullen bypass, and a substantial €200 million investment in the BusConnects programme. These developments aim to improve connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and facilitate smoother commutes, thereby boosting the overall efficiency of the city’s transport network. By

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enhancing accessibility, these projects are expected to support Galway’s growth and economic development.

Investments in higher education are also prioritized under Project Ireland 2040. This includes the construction of new student residences at NUI Galway (NUIG), the establishment of a new STEM building at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, and the creation of the Connacht Ulster Alliance. These initiatives are designed to elevate the educational infrastructure, attract more students, and promote a knowledge-based economy.

Additionally, healthcare improvements are set to bolster the city’s medical services, with new ambulatory electiveonly hospital facilities and the development of the Galway Emergency Department and ward block.

Additional investments are earmarked for Coole Park and Connemara National Park, enhancing the city’s cultural and natural heritage. These investments are intended to enrich Galway’s cultural landscape, preserve its historical sites, and promote tourism, thereby contributing to the city’s broader economic and social vitality.

Four new funds—Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Rural Development Fund, Climate Action Fund, and Disruptive Technologies Fund—totalling €4 billion, aim to stimulate renewal and investment in various sectors.

In May 2024, Leonard Cleary was appointed Chief Executive of Galway City Council. His tenure began with a strong focus on addressing traffic congestion and revitalizing vacant properties.

Cleary’s key priorities which he outlined at the first council meeting following his appointment in May 2024 focus

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on alleviating traffic congestion, revitalizing urban spaces, addressing housing shortages, fostering economic diversification, and promoting Galway as a prime destination for investment and tourism. A primary concern is traffic congestion, with a commitment to advancing transport alternatives and green infrastructure, alongside the N6 Galway City Ring Road project.

Cleary emphasizes the importance of collaboration with all stakeholders to implement these initiatives effectively, aiming to enhance connectivity and reduce congestion in the city.

Urban regeneration is another critical priority, with a dedicated effort to renew and repurpose vacant properties for social, economic, and cultural uses. Cleary has already engaged with government departments to secure support for these initiatives, ensuring that urban spaces are utilized efficiently and contribute positively to the community. This approach not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the groundwork for long-term urban sustainability and vibrancy.

Addressing housing shortages is closely linked to the urban regeneration efforts, focusing on repurposing underutilized spaces for mixed-use development. By transforming vacant properties into functional housing and community spaces, Cleary aims to alleviate the housing crisis and provide more affordable living options for residents. This strategy is designed to create a balanced urban environment where residential, commercial, and cultural spaces coexist harmoniously.

Economic diversification and digital innovation are also high on Cleary’s agenda, leveraging Galway’s skilled workforce and vibrant startup environment to respond to emerging economic challenges and opportunities. Promoting Galway on both national and international levels as an attractive location for investment, tourism, and residence is crucial. By enhancing Galway’s profile and showcasing its potential, Cleary aims to draw in new businesses, tourists, and residents, contributing to the city’s overall growth and prosperity.

Cleary’s extensive experience in local government, including leadership roles in Clare County Council, positions him well to drive these priorities forward.

Galway City Council is currently spearheading several key projects to enhance infrastructure and foster innovation within the city. One of the primary initiatives is the Galway City Council Transport Connectivity Project, a €40.3 million endeavor aimed at redeveloping Ceannt Station, constructing a pedestrian and cycling bridge across the River Corrib, and improving overall connectivity within the city. This project is designed to facilitate smoother, more sustainable transportation options, promoting ease of movement for residents and visitors alike.

In addition to transport improvements, the Galway Public Spaces and Streets Project is focused on enhancing the city’s public areas to create a more pedestrian-friendly and vibrant urban environment. This initiative seeks to revitalize streets and public spaces, making them more accessible and enjoyable for all. Another significant project is the development of the Galway Innovation and Creativity District in collaboration with NUI Galway. This project aims to transform Nun’s Island into a hub for innovation and culture, featuring a new library, cultural and performance spaces, and affordable student accommodation.

These projects collectively aim to elevate Galway’s infrastructure, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the overall quality of life in the city

NUIG’s ambitious plan for 2020-2025 includes a significant infrastructure investment program, with the Nun’s Island element alone expected to cost around €200 million.

Nun’s Island Regeneration Another significant project is the development of the Galway Innovation and Creativity District in collaboration with NUI Galway. The Nun’s Island project, is a cornerstone of Galway’s regeneration strategy and aims to transform Nun’s Island into a hub for innovation and culture, featuring a new library, cultural and performance spaces, and affordable student accommodation. These projects collectively aim to elevate Galway’s infrastructure, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the overall quality of life in the city.

NUIG’s ambitious plan for 2020-2025 includes a significant infrastructure investment program, with the Nun’s Island element alone expected to cost around €200 million. Key components of this project include: Innovation District: Designed to strengthen Galway’s reputation as a center of excellence for medical technologies, data science, culture, and climate research.

Cultural and Performance Space: A new venue to enhance Galway’s cultural offerings.

New Library: A €37.5 million investment to provide state-ofthe-art learning resources.

Sports Campus: Including a water sports center to promote physical activity and wellbeing.

Affordable Student Accommodation: Addressing the housing needs of the university’s growing student population.

This project aims to regenerate Nun’s Island, transforming it into a vibrant hub for education, innovation, and cultural activities, thereby enhancing the overall appeal of Galway City.

The ongoing development and future vision for Galway, as outlined in Project Ireland 2040 and championed by the new Chief Executive Leonard Cleary, position the city for significant growth and transformation. Through strategic investments in transport, education, healthcare, and urban regeneration, Galway is set to enhance its role as a key regional city, offering a high quality of life and robust economic opportunities.

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Intel’s European Expansion Ireland is set to benefit significantly from Intel’s strategic global investment strategy which is aimed at maintaining its competitive edge in the semiconductor industry

For over 50 years, Intel has been a leader in semiconductor innovation, supporting global manufacturing and research and development (R&D) that propel the digital age. Despite its historical dominance, Intel has faced significant challenges in recent years and has struggled to keep pace with competitors like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung.

TSMC currently dominates the chip foundry market, eclipsing Intel in overall revenue while Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Nvidia have also gained significant ground.

AMD reported $22.7 billion in revenue and a net income of $854 million last year, while Nvidia’s sales more than doubled due to the boom in AI and its demands on processing power.

Intel’s Foundry Services division, launched three years ago, has faced significant losses, reporting operating losses of nearly $7 billion last year. This has contributed to disappointing

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financial results for the first quarter of 2024, which saw Intel report a net loss of $400 million, To counter these challenges and remain competitive in the global AI race and bolster its position in the semiconductor market Intel has embarked on an ambitious investment program aimed at capitalizing on the surging global demand for semiconductors.

In April this year the company unveiled a new AI chip, Gaudi 3, claiming better performance and energy efficiency than Nvidia’s popular H100. Intel said it expected more than $500 million in sales from its Gaudi 3 chips in the second half of the year.

Intel’s global manufacturing network is critical to its operational success. The company’s expansive reach includes major projects across the United States and Europe, with significant investments in facilities in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon as well as Ireland, Israel, Germany, Poland,

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Located at Intel’s site in County Kildare, Fab 34 represents Europe’s first chip fab to use extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology in high-volume production, a critical component in modern semiconductor manufacturing.

Malaysia, and more. In 2023 alone, Intel used approximately 145,000 tons of steel and over 2 million cubic yards of concrete to expand its facilities worldwide.

In recent years, Intel has announced a €33 billion investment to boost its semiconductor manufacturing in Europe. The investments are part of a broader strategy to create an end-to-end semiconductor manufacturing value chain in Europe, complemented by existing and planned investments in Germany and Poland. This expansion is not just about increasing capacity but also about ensuring a robust and secure and sustainable supply chain to meet the expected long-term demand for semiconductors globally.

Ireland, which has played a critical role in its global manufacturing network is receiving a significant portion of this investment. Operational since 1989, Intel’s Leixlip campus in County Kildare has seen more than €30 billion in investments, making it one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing locations in Europe. This facility, the largest private investment in the history of the Irish State is home to a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility – or fabs as they are referred to by Intel and employs over 4,500 people. It is a key site for producing Intel’s 14nm process technology.

Recently, news emerged that Intel is in advanced talks with Apollo Global Management to secure more than €10.2 billion to build a plant in Ireland. This deal, expected to be finalised in the coming weeks is part of Intel’s effort to expand its chip manufacturing facilities while maintaining a controlling interest in the joint venture. Apollo, based in New York, oversees over $670 billion in assets and is poised to become a key financial partner in Intel’s expansion plans.

The billion deal with Apollo will enhance Intel’s balance sheet and provide capital at a cost below Intel’s cost of equity.

David Zinsner, Intel’s chief financial officer, emphasised that the agreement gives the chip manufacturer additional flexibility to execute its strategy as it invests in creating a resilient and sustainable semiconductor supply chain. This transaction allows Intel to share its investment with an established financial partner on attractive terms while maintaining a strong investment-grade credit rating.

Fab 34 in Leixlip is particularly significant. Located at Intel’s site in County Kildare, Fab 34 represents Europe’s first chip fab to use extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology in high-volume production, a critical component in modern semiconductor manufacturing. The project, which began in 2019, has received $18.4 billion in investment from Intel to date.

This advanced process technology, first deployed at the Leixlip plant in September 2003, enables the production of futuregeneration processors, including the upcoming Intel® Core™ Ultra and Intel® Xeon® processors. The integration of EUV technology ensures that Fab 34 can produce chips with higher performance, power efficiency, and greater transistor density, maintaining

Intel’s competitive edge in the semiconductor market.

The technology developed at Fab 34 addresses the increasing needs of AI, advanced mobile networks, autonomous driving, and data center applications. By leveraging EUV technology, Intel can produce semiconductors that power the most demanding computing applications, which is essential in the race against competitors like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung.

The expansion of Intel’s Leixlip campus with the establishment of Fab 34 has had a profound impact on both the local economy and Ireland’s standing in the global semiconductor industry. The construction phase of Fab 34 engaged 6,000 workers at its peak and has created 1,600 fulltime high-tech positions upon completion. This substantial employment boost highlights Intel’s commitment to local job creation and technological advancement.

Moreover, the investment in Fab 34 has doubled the available manufacturing space in Ireland, solidifying the country’s role as a central hub in Intel’s global operations. The site has consistently been a cornerstone of Intel’s manufacturing network, leveraging its advanced capabilities and world-class infrastructure to develop new competencies in research and design.

The investment in Fab 34 is also aligned with Intel’s plan to deliver five process nodes in four years, underscoring the strategic importance of its Irish operations. The new facilities will not only boost Intel’s production capacity but also support the company’s efforts to innovate and stay ahead in the competitive semiconductor market.

The production milestone achieved by Fab 34 serves as a catalyst for additional ecosystem investments and innovations throughout the European Union. It also underscores Intel’s role in contributing to a geographically balanced and secure global semiconductor supply chain. As Europe seeks to enhance its semiconductor capacity, Fab 34’s success is a significant step towards realizing these regional ambitions.

Dr. Ann Kelleher, executive vice president and general manager of Technology Development at Intel described the use of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology as a landmark for Intel and the semiconductor industry as a whole.

“The transfer of Intel 4 process technology into high-volume production in Ireland is a giant step toward enabling leadingedge manufacturing in Europe and a huge moment for our technology development teams in Oregon, too,” she said.

Intel’s strategic investments and expansion plans are crucial to maintaining its competitive edge in the semiconductor industry. The company’s efforts to enhance its manufacturing capabilities in Ireland and other global locations are essential to meet the growing demand for semiconductors and compete with industry leaders. As Intel navigates the challenges of the market, its focus on innovation, strategic partnerships, and investment in leading-edge technology will be key to its success.

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Celebrating FAB34 With more than 30 years providing specialist engineering, construction, polymer & consultancy services, Co Roscommon firm, ROSS, is proud to have played a part in the creation of what is known as FAB34. ROSS CEO, Fergus Naughton explains:

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From all at the ROSS team we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Intel as they reach an important milestone at their newest Irish manufacturing facility, affectionately known as ‘Fab34’. Nestled in the scenic surroundings of Leixlip, Co Kildare, this facility represents a monumental step forward in Intel’s continued journey of excellence. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that it’s part of a staggering €17 billion investment, doubling Intel’s manufacturing space in Ireland.

The story of Fab34 began in 2019, with a vision to create a hub of innovation and precision that would shape the future of technology. Today, it stands as a testament to Intel’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Fab34 is poised to become the first highvolume manufacturing location for the production of Intel 4 products, a testament to the company’s pioneering spirit.

This month, as Fab34 commences its First Full Loop, we celebrate not

As Intel embarks

just a manufacturing milestone but the culmination of years of dedication, vision, and hard work. Intel’s achievements in Ireland resonate far beyond borders, impacting industries, economies, and the lives of countless individuals.

As Intel embarks on this exciting new chapter and celebrates 35 years of excellence in Ireland, we commend them for their remarkable journey and eagerly anticipate the countless innovations yet to come.

on this exciting new chapter and celebrates 35 years of excellence in Ireland, we commend them for their remarkable journey and eagerly anticipate the countless innovations yet to come.

About Ross ROSS provides specialist engineering, construction, polymer & consultancy services. Established over three decades ago, ROSS is now synonymous with the most superior standards of service, flexibility and above all quality. Our people are the best in the business with a track record of providing cost effective solutions, facilitating clients from project conception to completion. Our client’s satisfaction comes from the way our

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company approaches the management and delivery of our services, consistently striving to add value. Whatever the customer requires, ROSS has the experienced team and skill set to deliver.

ROSS takes immense pride in our involvement in this remarkable project alongside Intel in Ireland. Below, we present a glimpse of some of our exceptional contributions to this marvel of modern engineering:

Waffle Deck

Established over three decades ago, ROSS is now synonymous with the most superior standards of service, flexibility

At ROSS, we thrive on tackling unique challenges and projects. This project was to manufacture, supply and install 40,000m² stay-in-place waffle deck former system.

This intricate project involved constructing a waffle deck – an ingenious structural system with voids or cells, resulting in a lightweight, efficient design. The project consisted of a whopping 5,680 tonnes of steel.

and above all quality.

Modularisation The project was modularised to minimize on-site risk, ensure highest quality, and speed up installation. With expert planning, we condensed705,000 moving parts into 2,352 modules.

Project Success n Ahead of schedule n 219,002 incident-free hours n 166,400 saved site-based hours

Industrial Stairs This project involved detailing, fabricating and install of 40 individual stairs for this state of the art facility. The types of stairs we installed were diverse, ranging from steel pan stairs located within the facility to galvanised stairs & platforms situated externally.

To ensure precise placement of each stair within the as-built site environment, we conducted site surveys using 3-D technology.

Before the fabrication process commenced, we used Navisworks 3D Modelling software to intricately design the stairs. This resulted in the production of GA drawings for client review and scrutiny, adhering to strict design, code, and specification requirements.

To leverage progressive technology, we employed Building Information Modelling (BIM) models for some stairs, providing a 3-D overview of the stair components. These models were merged with a federated model of the entire building to ensure optimal coordination of all services within the facility.

All components of the stairs were fabricated in our off-site facility and were preassembled where possible to reduce on-site labour hours. During the installation process, our dedicated personnel utilized a variety of specialized lifting equipment, including spider cranes, electric hoists, and A-Frame Gantries,

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depending on the stair’s location. Some of the stairs spanned up to 35 meters.

Once the stairs were in position, we assembled and connected the various components in compliance with codes and specifications. Subsequently, we conducted an as-built survey and laterally tied each stair into the surrounding primary steel structures or concrete slabs.

Our Quality Assurance (QA) team ensured meticulous collation of all documentation related to the steel, which was then provided to the client in digital format. This approach ensured transparency and accountability throughout the project.

Turnkey Fitout

ROSS Rigging a division of our engineering business were awarded one of Europe’s largest fitout projects, consisting of the installation of 2,286 state-of-the-art, first of a kind, manufacturing equipment (tools) used in the fabrication of silicon chips, in a new facility consisting of 150,000sqm. This was a complex and demanding undertaking that required a high level of expertise and precision. Our scope of work was extensive and covered every aspect of the installation process, from the initial surveying and setting out, to the final commissioning support of the tools.

The surveying and setting out involved a detailed assessment of the installation site to ensure that it was suitable for the equipment and that there was sufficient space for them to be installed and operated. We used state of the art specialized rigging equipment and techniques to ensure that the tools were installed at the correct location and orientation to meet the required layout and specifications.

The de-crating process involved carefully unpacking the equipment from their crates and preparing them for move-in.

This required a high level of care and attention to prevent any damage to the delicate components of the tools during the unpacking process.

Specialty rigging was used to move the equipment into position, many of these items were notable for their substantial dimensions and significant weighing in excess of 10,000kg, and required careful handling to ensure that they were not damaged during the installation process. Our team used specialized lifting equipment and techniques to ensure that the equipment were moved safely and accurately into position.

Once the tools were in place, we proceeded with the installation process, under the guidance of the vendors, which involved the careful assembly and connection of various components. This required a high level of technical expertise and precision to ensure that the components were installed to the clients specific tolerances.

Being part of the journey that led to the creation of FAB 34 has been nothing short of incredible. As one of the local contractors, we are immensely proud to have played a pivotal role in bringing this cutting-edge semiconductor facility to life.

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ROSS HQ Unit 10 Trinity Court Fonthill Road Dublin 22 D22A2C2

ROSS POLYMER Blyry Business & Commercial Park Athlone Westmeath N37NN25

admin@ross-es.com

(00353) 1 6202738

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Heavy Lifting Engineers

Unit 6, Red Cow Business Park, Naas Road, Dublin 22, Ireland, D22 TX28.

T +353 (0)1 459 5500

www.gobriencranes.ie 138

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Lifting higher Gabriel O’Brien Crane Hire Ltd is one of Ireland’s longest established crane hire companies boasting more than four decades of experience.

Thanks to time spent leading the charge in the industry the firm has built up a unique approach that mixes modern engineering with long-term knowledge, gathered since the company’s inception. The company was founded in 1989 by Gabriel O’Brien with one 15-tonne mobile crane on his books.

Since then, the fleet has grown to one of the largest in Ireland, boasting over 50 models within its ranks, and Gabriel now runs the company alongside his son, Conor.

The entire fleet of cranes is kept in pristine condition, with a complete update carried out within the last three years. This commitment to keeping its equipment up to date has led to the company owning Ireland’s only self-propelled modular transporter, a key piece of equipment for lifting projects enabling the firm to be able to transport the massive hardware often needed to complete complicated works.

Gabriel O’Brien Crane Hire has a selection of items for hire ranging from from 800-tonne mobile and 11350 crawler cranes to 3.5-tonne spider cranes that can fit in the tightest of spaces. These are used in a wide variety of onshore and offshore industries, including the construction, oil, and wind energy sectors.

The company offers a 24 hour a day comprehensive service including its free site inspection, to the execution of a lift, along with detailed pre-planning, fully qualified operatives and unrivalled attention to detail.

Across the process of each lift, the engineering expertise of O’Brien Cranes is evident. The firm’s staff are certified in both Ireland and the UK and trained in manual handling and working at heights, and the team has a vast knowledge of lifting across a whole range of industries. The planning process includes full CAD drawings of how the lift will be carried out, using the most modern engineering expertise to work around wind resistance, underfoot conditions and any other factors which may influence the lift. This all goes towards ensuring that all work is completed in the most hassle-free yet fully secure environment for its clients.

Due to its detailed planning and proven track record, O’Brien Cranes has been trusted with some of the most challenging projects across Ireland and the UK. Its impeccable safety record goes hand-in-hand with attention to detail in both the preparation and carrying out of all lifts. Most of the work is done before any lift takes place, with site investigation and careful planning, including RAMS (risk assessment method statements) and 3D CAD drawings being created to map out even the most complex projects in detail. All of this combines to make Gabriel O’Brien Crane Hire LTD a company to trust with your project lifts.

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LotusWorks – Supporting growth A 30-year history of adapting to shifts in the semiconductor market means that LotusWorks is well-placed to capitalise on the explosion of growth across the industry, driven by developments in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

With 700-plus staff working across multidisciplinary teams in 13 states in the US, Ireland and Sweden, LotusWorks is a global company specialising in Fab Facilities Commissioning, which is the preparation and testing of semiconductor fabrication facilities before they become fully operational.

Its meticulous testing and commissioning process ensures that all systems, equipment and processes are functioning with reliability 24/7 and to the highest standards, creating an environment in which staff can work safely, systems operate efficiently, and clients can maintain competitiveness across the semiconductor industry.

Embracing the Foundry Model LotusWorks CTO Pat Kyne explains that the increase in demand in recent years has led some of the industry’s advanced chip designers to steer towards outsourcing their semiconductor manufacturing. Pre-designed advanced processor specifications

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are secured to chip foundries to reduce their manufacturing costs allowing them to focus on further design and innovation.

Foundries are becoming the main source of the most advanced chips in products we utilise daily such as cell phones and GPUs. This model is enabling semiconductor designers to keep pace with the fast-growing demand for cutting-edge technologies.

“In the past, semiconductor Fab construction cycles were typically every 5 to ten years. With the advancement in technologies such as AI, these cycles have increased in frequency and we are seeing the result of this in the surge of new chip manufacturing facilities currently being built or in the design stage, especially in the USA where the CHIPs act passed by the US federal government is injecting billions of dollars into the semiconductor manufacturing sector,” said Mr Kyne.

“We are also currently seeing smaller scale and older facilities being updated and expanded, many of which had not seen investment in quite some time. This reflects the surge in demand for a vast range of chips which will continue to

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accelerate semiconductor manufacturing and the need for facilities commissioning and recommissioning expertise for quite some time. Artificial intelligence applications, vision systems supporting the push towards fully autonomous vehicles, 5G and wireless communications are all driving further diversification within the semiconductor space.”

A recent report by US technological research firm Gartner projected that the foundry market will grow by around 8% annually for the next five years, underscoring its now-critical role in the global semiconductor supply chain. As more semiconductor companies reposition themselves, Mr Kyne believes that LotusWorks’ current growth is aligned to support them through commissioning and start-up expertise and the subsequent, calibration, operations and maintenance services, which are vital to ensuring that new fabrication facilities are reliable.

“Semiconductor manufacturing requires constant updates to the associated support systems with changes to chip specifications, and we support the requalification of those systems in existing facilities today,” said Mr Kyne who believes that LotusWorks “excels in the start-up environment, leveraging our extensive experience from past decades of facilities commissioning.

LotusWorks Director James Casey believes the company’s client-centric strategies, and emphasis on internal innovation and partnership models has ensured that it has remained relevant despite shifting market dynamics and persistent challenges around recruitment of staff with skills to match the existing team of seasoned experts.

“We have strong relationships with some of the major chipmakers and that’s driven in large part by our ability

to adapt to change. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been challenges. The talent shortage is one of the most pressing issues facing the industry with companies struggling to find qualified personnel. That’s why we invest heavily in training and development to ensure our team is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills,” Mr Casey says.

“The semiconductor industry is constantly evolving. New technologies like chiplet architectures, advanced packaging and quantum computing are some of the latest trends shaping the future of semiconductor manufacturing. The demands of those advancements can’t be satisfied by training and upskilling alone. That’s why we hire internationally and collaborate with educational institutions to maintain a steady supply of talented staff.”

Sustainability Matters Increasing public consciousness of the impact that the use of energy and mineral resources is having on the twin crises of biodiversity and climate change has led the semiconductor industry to think more about its environmental impact in recent years. In recent years, LotusWorks’ approach to Fab Commissioning has included efforts to improve energy.

“LotusWorks is committed to sustainability and has been influencing energy saving and environmentally friendly designs and subsequent testing into our commissioning projects for decades. Proof of which is evident in the LEED certified projects we have been supporting in the recent past and those currently under design and construction, adds Mr Kyne.

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Workplace Safety The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) recently released its 2023 Annual Report, which highlights proactive measures, regulatory advancements, and sector-specific insights aimed at enhancing workplace safety and reducing occupational hazards in Ireland.

The construction sector remains high-risk, with 11 recorded fatalities in 2023. The major hazards in construction are falls from heights and vehicle-related incidents, both of which contribute significantly to the industry’s fatality rate

The Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA) 2023 Annual Report highlights a year of significant activity and achievements across various domains. The HSA conducted a total of 10,458 inspections and investigations, including 9,995 proactive and 463 reactive inspections. In response to incident reports, 225 investigations were carried out, with 83 focusing on fatal accidents, of which 43 were work-related.

Work-related fatalities saw an increase in 2023, with 43 deaths reported compared to 28 in 2022. The report reveals that the agriculture, fishing, and forestry sectors remain the most perilous, accounting for 20 work-related fatalities. This alarming number continues a troubling trend observed over several years, emphasizing the sector’s inherent dangers. The primary hazards in these industries include machinery operation and working at heights, both of which pose significant risks to workers.

Similarly, the construction sector remains high-risk, with 11 recorded fatalities in 2023. The major hazards in construction are falls from heights and vehicle-related incidents, both of which contribute significantly to the industry’s fatality rate. The HSA’s sector-specific initiatives aim to address these dangers through rigorous safety standards, comprehensive inspections, and enforcement of safety regulations.

Despite the increase in work-related fatalities in 2023, the overall rate of fatalities per 100,000 workers has decreased over the past decade, from 2.8 in 2014 to 1.6 in 2023. This long-term

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decline reflects the effectiveness of sustained safety initiatives and regulatory measures. However, the persistent high fatality rates in agriculture and construction underscore the need for targeted interventions in these sectors.

The report also reveals that the HSA concluded nineteen prosecutions over the year, resulting in fines totalling €1,377,500.

Of these, fifteen prosecutions were on indictment and four were summary prosecutions. These legal actions reflect the HSA’s stringent approach to enforcing health and safety regulations and holding violators accountable.

Several key regulatory developments were also introduced last year. Notably, new regulations now mandate helmet wearing and training for all quad bike operators, a pioneering move in the EU. In addition, the HSA published a new Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality, providing practical guidance for managing air quality in workplaces. It also focused on specific sectors and initiated an inspection program targeting renewable energy installations, such as wind and solar farms, and anaerobic digestion facilities.

Furthermore, the HSA assessed 917 chemical products and 307 industrial products, removing 182 non-compliant chemical products from the market. Awareness and education campaigns were launched, focusing on psychosocial health and including new guidance and resources, such as an eLearning course for remote working safety.

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In addition, in order to promote best practices in occupational health and safety, the HSA established a Health and Social Care Advisory Committee. Collectively, these efforts illustrate the HSA’s comprehensive approach to enhancing workplace safety and compliance across diverse industries.

The HAS report also outlined its Program of Work for 2024 which is designed to expand on the successes of 2023 while tackling new and emerging challenges. One of the primary objectives is to enhance inspections and implement targeted campaigns with a heightened focus on high-risk sectors such as agriculture and construction. By intensifying inspection efforts and tailoring campaigns to these industries, the HSA aims to further reduce the incidence of workplace accidents and fatalities.

In addition to sector-specific initiatives, the HSA is committed to addressing the broader impacts of technological advancements and environmental changes. The 2024 program includes strategies to manage the effects of digitalization, sustainability practices, and evolving workforce demographics.

These adaptations are crucial as they directly influence workplace dynamics and safety protocols. The HSA plans to develop and implement guidelines and tools that help employers and employees navigate these changes safely, ensuring that new technologies and sustainable practices are integrated without compromising worker safety.

The HSA also acknowledges the growing importance of psychosocial hazards in the workplace. The 2024 agenda includes continued efforts to develop resources and supports aimed at managing work-related stress, exposure to sensitive content, and other psychosocial risks. By prioritizing mental health and well-being alongside physical safety, the HSA seeks to create more holistic and supportive work environments. This comprehensive approach ensures that all aspects of worker health and safety are addressed, fostering a culture of wellbeing and productivity across diverse sectors.

Conor O’Brien, CEO of the HSA, emphasized the need for employers, particularly the self-employed, to prioritize health and safety. “While much progress has been made in improving workplace safety in recent years, sadly we are seeing a persistent trend over many years now in both the agriculture and construction sectors, where workers continue to lose their lives,” he said.

“Many of these are self-employed and we’re urging all employers, but particularly the self-employed, to make health and safety a top priority as you go to work each day. As the Health and Safety Authority prepares its new 2025-2027 Strategy, I will be seeking input from our sectoral advisory committees as to how we can make a significant step change in these sectors to significantly reduce the fatality, illness and injury rates. We will continue to develop a wide range of userfriendly tools and guidance to help achieve these aims” Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Emer Higgins TD, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in workplace accidents and called for heightened vigilance and utilization of HSA resources to ensure workplace safety amidst a growing workforce.

“Each life lost is one too many and I urge all employers and employees to prioritise health and safety and make full use of the HSA’s resources and tools,” Ms Higgins said.

“Employment in Ireland reached a record high of 74.2% in 2023. There has never been more people at work in Ireland

but with more people working, we cannot become complacent.

Together we can help ensure that every worker in Ireland can return home safely at the end of the day,” she added.

The HSA’s 2023 Annual Report underscores significant achievements in promoting workplace safety across various sectors. While the overall trend in work-related fatalities shows improvement, the persistent risks in agriculture and construction necessitate continued focus and innovative strategies. The HSA’s objectives and Program of Work for 2024 reflect a commitment to adapting to emerging challenges and ensuring a safer work environment for all. Through collaborative efforts, regulatory advancements, and targeted interventions, the HSA aims to further reduce occupational hazards and protect the health and safety of Ireland’s workforce.

HSA: KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF 2023 Inspections and Investigations: n The HSA conducted a total of 10,458 inspections and investigations, including 9,995 proactive and 463 reactive inspections. n 225 investigations followed incident reports, with 83 investigations into fatal accidents, of which 43 were work-related.

Work-Related Fatalities: n The report documented 43 work-related fatalities, marking an increase from 28 in 2022. n The agriculture, fishing, and forestry sectors witnessed the highest fatalities (20 deaths), followed by the construction sector (11 deaths).

Prosecutions and Penalties: n Nineteen prosecutions were concluded, resulting in fines totaling €1,377,500. n Fifteen prosecutions were on indictment, and four were summary prosecutions.

Regulatory Developments: n New regulations were introduced, making helmet wearing and training mandatory for all quad bike operators, a first in the EU. n A new Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality was published.

Sectoral Focus and Initiatives: n An inspection program targeted renewable energy installations, including wind farms, solar farms, and anaerobic digestion facilities. n A Health and Social Care Advisory Committee was established to guide best practices in occupational health and safety.

Product Assessments and Market Surveillance: n The HSA assessed 917 chemical products and 307 industrial products, removing 182 non-compliant chemical products from the Irish market. n Thirteen new accreditations were awarded, and 384 existing accreditations were renewed.

Awareness and Education: n The HSA implemented campaigns focusing on psychosocial health, including work-related stress. n New guidance and resources, including an eLearning course for remote working safety, were published.

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Durability means Sustainability

Hultafors Group Ireland

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Unit B5, Calmount Business Park, Ballymount Dublin 12 Tel: Sector +353 Magazine (0)1 409 8400 | Email: Info@hultaforsgroup.ie the Public

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Snickers Workwear Created by Matti Viio, a Swedish Electrician in 1975 because his work clothing just was not good enough, he one day left work and started designing his own line of workwear. Since then Snickers Workwear has been at the forefront of pioneering workwear for nearly 50 years.

Snickers Workwear strives to push the limits everyday and constantly tries to redefine the concept of modern workwear. The firm has continued to combine design technology and hi-tech fabrics with superior functionality, comfort, protection, and durability.

Everything Snickers Workwear does is based on its end-users.

The firm’s role is to find solutions that make work life better, smarter and safer for all trades people. That’s Snickers Workwear reason for being.

Sustainability At Snickers Workwear, they know that durability and sustainability go hand in hand. The longer clothes last, the less environmental impact they have. This simple, fundamental insight is the cornerstone of the firm’s sustainability efforts and influences everything it does.

Snickers Workwear has always believed in making hardworking, long-lasting workwear. And they are committed to continue doing so, in close collaboration with the production facilities where they work with continuous improvements for both social and environmental accountability. All while working to reduce their carbon footprint

Design To create workwear that stands up to the daily wear and tear of hard work, Snickers Workwear focuses on the people that wear their clothes right from the start. The firm designs with functionality, comfort, and longevity in mind, and test both materials and construction for performance. They promote circular business models, and always look for ways to further improve the durability of their workwear.

Snickers Workwear strives to use the highest quality materials to make clothing last even longer. they also want to replace conventional materials with more sustainable alternatives to further reduce their environmental footprint. The following helps them do this. n Test clothing in real-life, hard-working conditions. n Make clever improvements. n Replace conventional materials with more sustainable alternatives. n Support Better Cotton to improve cotton farming globally. n Adopt circular business models.

Production Every garment Snickers Workwear produces has an impact on the planet. To reduce the firm’s impact, they’re looking for ways of improving all aspects of the business. Their decision

making is based on established methods and standards, calculate emissions using the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, and perform Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) on products to help them identify areas of improvement.

Snickers Workwear chooses partners and suppliers carefully and has processes in place for due diligence, transparency, and followup. As part of the Hultafors Group, they require suppliers to adhere to the group’s Code of Conduct (CoC). It is based on international standards to ensure fair, safe, and healthy working conditions, as well as environmental responsibility across the entire supply chain.

Working together with suppliers by: n Managing risks and negative impact n Implementing compliance and compliance follow up n Conducting transparency & risk evaluations

Collaboration The firm’s commitment to sustainable development reaches beyond its direct impact. Snickers Workwear supports Better Cotton and is a member of the Chemcal Group of the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE), the Scandinavian Textile Initiative for Climate Action (STICA), and the association Textile Importers. This allows the firm to remain relevant in a rapidly changing landscape, gain new insights, share learnings, and encourage the industry on a whole to commit to the 1.5°C pathway of the Paris Agreement.

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Evolution of Irish Rail Irish Rail is on the cusp of massive transformation with significant investments in passenger and freight services

Iarnród Éireann, commonly known as Irish Rail, has experienced a significant transformation since its establishment in 1987.

Initially grappling with a lack of investment, outdated infrastructure, and declining service quality, the company faced an uphill battle to rebuild its reputation and relevance. Over the past two decades, however, substantial improvements have been made, marked by investments in new trains, upgraded facilities, and enhanced services.

However, despite these strides, rail usage in Ireland remains modest. Passenger kilometres attributed to rail in the Republic constitute just 3%, far below the European average of around 9%. This disparity extends to freight, where rail competes with the modern road transport network, bolstered by the extensive road-building programme of the 1990s.

Recognising the underutilisation of rail transport, the government is committed to enhancing both passenger and freight rail services. This initiative aligns with broader objectives to reduce road traffic and associated emissions, thus contributing to Ireland’s climate action goals. The government supports strengthening urban train services and promoting rail as a viable alternative to car travel. This commitment is further backed by the tourism industry, which views rail transport as essential for encouraging visitor mobility within the country.

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Strategy 2027 Under the leadership of CEO Jim Meade, Irish Rail has unveiled an ambitious Strategy 2027. This strategy, developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the role of rail in postpandemic recovery and long-term national development.

Strategy 2027 sees the electrification of the rail network as a pivotal initiative in Irish Rail’s strategy to reduce emissions and advance low-carbon transportation solutions. This comprehensive plan targets the transition from diesel to electric and battery-electric trains, significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy efficiency. By focusing on major commuter routes such as the Greater Dublin Area and the Cork network, this electrification effort aligns with national and European environmental objectives, positioning Ireland at the forefront of sustainable rail transport.

Projects like the DART Underground and enhancements to InterCity services are pivotal in increasing capacity and connectivity, particularly within the Greater Dublin Area. These efforts support compact growth along rail corridors, transforming stations into integrated hubs for residential and commercial activities Expanding rail freight services is essential to bolstering Ireland’s logistics and economic infrastructure. Strategy 2027 aims to

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enhance connectivity to key ports, including development of the railway system across Rosslare and Ballina, creating an Atlantic the island to 2050, aligning with net-zero railway spine that supports efficient freight emissions commitments. The review movement. By reducing track access charges examines current railway usage, future and improving rail infrastructure, the plan roles, and how rail can better serve both facilitates a modal shift from road to rail, jurisdictions. alleviating road congestion and contributing The review outlines several key goals to lower overall carbon emissions. This aimed at transforming Ireland’s rail network expansion is pivotal in integrating Ireland’s into a more sustainable and efficient system. freight system with broader European A primary objective is decarbonisation, markets, ensuring smoother and more which involves significantly reducing sustainable supply chains. carbon emissions linked to rail transport and Improving regional connectivity is doubling the rail’s modal share. This goal also a strategic priority aimed at ensuring underscores a commitment to environmental equitable access to economic opportunities stewardship and aligns with broader national and public services for rural communities. and international targets for reducing Enhancements in rail infrastructure will greenhouse gases. link remote areas to major urban centers, Improving connectivity between Passenger kilometres attributed to rail in the fostering balanced regional development and Republic constitute just 3%, far below the Ireland’s major cities is another crucial European average of around 9%. social inclusion. By providing reliable and aim. By offering more attractive public efficient transportation options, this initiative transport options, the AISRR seeks to make supports local economies, enables better access to education and rail travel a viable and appealing alternative to road transport, healthcare, and reduces regional disparities, contributing to a more thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and convenience of the cohesive and integrated national framework. transportation network. This goal also supports urban development Sustainability underpins all aspects of Ireland’s rail by making cities more accessible and reducing traffic congestion. network development, with significant investments directed Enhancing regional accessibility is also a priority, with a focus towards electrification, new fleet acquisitions, and station on providing better access to economic opportunities and public accessibility enhancements. These efforts are designed to services for rural areas. This initiative is expected to bridge the minimize environmental impact while promoting compact urban-rural divide, ensuring that remote communities are not left urban growth. By prioritizing green energy solutions, the behind in terms of economic development and social inclusion. acquisition of energy-efficient trains, and the modernization Improved rail connectivity can stimulate local economies and of rail stations to be more accessible and eco-friendlier, this provide essential links to larger markets and services. strategy not only mitigates the environmental footprint but Stimulating economic activity through compact growth also enhances the overall passenger experience, driving a shift and the integration of public transport with land use is another towards more sustainable modes of transportation. strategic goal. By aligning transportation planning with urban Meade has long emphasised the critical role of rail in development, the AISRR aims to create more sustainable and Ireland’s economic and social development, aligning with liveable communities. This approach supports economic vitality broader government initiatives like Project Ireland 2040. The by promoting efficient land use and reducing the reliance on current strategy focuses on improving customer confidence, personal vehicles. enhancing safety, and expanding capacity to meet growing Finally, the AISRR emphasises the importance of achieving demand and support national climate action targets. economic and financial feasibility. This involves ensuring that all “Rail has always been the most sustainable mode of investments align with the review’s objectives and identifying land transport, and now we have the opportunity and the potential funding sources. By carefully planning and securing the commitment to enhance this further,” he says. “Our investment necessary resources, the AISRR aims to create a rail network that is program, funded by the National Transport Authority under the not only environmentally sustainable but also economically viable National Development Plan is critical, with European funding and beneficial for the long term.. also supporting our Cork Area Commuter Rail plan.

In total, the AISRR outlines 30 recommendations to achieve “We also commit in this Climate Action Plan to pursue these goals, with an estimated capital expenditure of €36.8 billion. innovative solutions to green energy generation, the use of This investment aims to transform the quality, speed, and frequency alternative fuels and improvements to our buildings and of rail services, improve connectivity, and contribute to carbon existing fleets to reduce energy consumption,” neutrality by 2050.

Rail transport offers significant environmental benefits by The All-Island Strategic Rail Review reducing greenhouse gas emissions and alleviating road congestion.

(AISRR) The transport sector accounts for 19% of Ireland’s emissions, with road traffic responsible for 95% of these emissions. By promoting The All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) represents a rail, Ireland aims to halve its transport sector’s carbon footprint by collaborative effort between the Department of Transport in 2030, contributing to the broader Climate Action Plan.

Ireland and the) Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

As well as comprehensive strategies to reduce CO2 Launched in April 2021, the AISRR aims to inform the future emissions, other initiatives include a €165 million investment in

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As well as comprehensive strategies to reduce CO2 emissions, other initiatives include a €165 million investment in the Enterprise train service and ambitious plans for reviving rail freight. the Enterprise train service and ambitious plans for reviving rail freight. These efforts aim to improve travel efficiency, promote environmental sustainability, and stimulate economic growth through greater rail utilisation.

The Enterprise Train Service Investment The Enterprise train service, a vital link between Dublin and Belfast, is set for a major upgrade thanks to a €165 million investment from the PEACEPLUS Programme. This funding aims to cut travel time to under two hours, significantly enhancing the commuter experience. Over one million passengers used this service in 2022, and the planned improvements are expected to boost these numbers.

The investment will see the replacement of the entire fleet with new, state-of-the-art trains by the end of the decade. These new trains are designed to support net zero carbon emissions, aligning with broader environmental goals. Irish Rail emphasise the sustainability aspect, noting that the new trains will allow for more eco-friendly travel between the north and south. This initiative is projected to benefit approximately 3.3m people currently living within a 40-mile radius of the route, with this number expected to grow to over four million by the next decade.

The All Island Strategic Rail Review also recommends significant enhancements to rail freight connectivity. This includes the potential reunification of the rail network across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, fostering stronger business links between Belfast and Dublin. The report also supports the creation of an Atlantic railway spine connecting Ballina in the northwest to Rosslare in the south. This spine will enhance freight connections to key ports, promoting a shift from road to rail transport.

Currently, rail carries only a tiny fraction of Ireland’s freight, but the proposed developments under the “Rail Freight 2040” plan aim to change this. The plan positions rail as central to Ireland’s future freight system, supporting the national drive towards environmental sustainability. Modernisation projects, such as the addition of a second track on the Midleton-Glounthaune branch in Cork, are expected to eliminate bottlenecks and improve network reliability, making rail a more attractive option for both freight and passenger transport.

Irish Rail’s Climate Action Plan 2023-2030 sets an ambitious target to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030. This plan includes transitioning from diesel to electric trains, increasing the use of renewable energy, and enhancing energy efficiency across operations. The 2018 baseline emissions were 144,400 tons of CO2, which accounted for about 1% of national transport emissions. The goal is to reduce this to approximately 70,800 tons by 2030.

Key strategies include:

n Reducing Diesel Reliance: Utilising alternative fuels such as biofuels and green hydrogen, and transitioning the road fleet to

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electric or HVO fuel by 2030. n Electrification: Expanding the DART+ network in Dublin and developing battery-electric operations in Cork, while planning for electrification of key InterCity routes. n Green Energy Generation: Increasing the renewable energy content in the national grid and installing solar panels on various Irish Rail buildings. n Energy Efficiency: Converting intercity railcar fleets to hybrid power and upgrading buildings to achieve higher energy ratings and efficiencies.

Investments in rail infrastructure are expected to deliver substantial economic benefits. Enhanced rail services can contribute to economic growth by improving connectivity and accessibility, reducing travel times, and offering a sustainable alternative to road transport. The Enterprise train service improvements will not only facilitate quicker commutes but also support regional development by making travel between Dublin and Belfast more efficient.

The revival of rail freight will bolster Ireland’s manufacturing and export industries by providing reliable, low-carbon transportation options. The development of the Atlantic railway spine will open up new economic opportunities, especially for regions currently underserved by the rail network. Additionally, improved rail connections to deep-water ports like Foynes and Dublin Port will enhance Ireland’s position in global trade networks.

The strategic focus on reducing emissions aligns with global sustainability goals and positions Ireland as a leader in green transportation. The shift from road to rail will help meet national greenhouse gas emissions targets, supporting a cleaner, more sustainable environment.

Irish Rail’s initiatives represent a significant step forward in enhancing the country’s transportation infrastructure. The €165 million investment in the Enterprise train service, the strategic revival of rail freight, and comprehensive plans to reduce CO2 emissions are set to transform rail travel and freight in Ireland and deliver substantial economic, environmental, and societal benefits.

A NEW AGE OF RAIL First All-Island Strategic Rail Review recommends electrification, new and enhanced routes, greater regional balance and improved speeds and frequency. If all the recommendations in this Review were delivered: n the rail network would be decarbonised n 700,000 more people would live within 5km of a railway station n rail journey times between some major cities could be halved n services on busiest intercity routes could run every 30 minutes in some cases n rail passenger numbers could double n 90% of aviation passengers could travel to the airport by rail n two thirds of freight tonnage would pass through ports served by rail n the island’s economy could be boosted by €20bn

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GPX Rail GPX Rail has continued to strive for success and innovation in the rail industry since its foundation by Irish industrialist Declan Carr in 2008.

GPX Rail specializes in civil engineering and track work projects. Since its foundation, GPX Rail has had a strong track record of successful projects, including the renovation of Limerick Bridge and also the expansion of the Kildare Junction.

GPX Rail is known for its commitment to safety, innovation, and providing transportation solutions for both passengers and freight. The firm is dedicated to improving railway systems and ensuring efficient and reliable operations.

GPX Rail started in 2008 with 20 employees but now has a headcount of 97 employees with this increasing on average by 15% annually. With all the great success GPX Rail has had to date, this has led the firm to find a new home of operations with a brand-new head office which opened in Naas Co. Kildare in 2023.

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Operations and Projects With the work being put into the business of rail construction and rail maintenance, civil engineering projects, light rail and heavy gauge construction maintenance, GPX Rail is right up there with the premier movers and shakers in what is a booming industry.

Mick Hanley who occupies the role of operations director at GPX Rail takes great pride in the work and service the firm provides. “The quality of our installation and maintenance work is second to none and is the core of our business and because we run such a tight ship and keep our overheads as low as possible – without cutting corners – we can complement the

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expertise and reliability we offer our clients by offering a very competitive price when it comes to the tendering process.

“This has led us to form strong relationships with clients such as Iarnród Eireann, Dublin Bus, TransLink, TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) Tara Mines, Dublin Port and large international companies such as Linmag International, Neopul and Schweerbau.”

Mick also notes, “I’m very fortunate in that I’m dealing, face-to-face, with a lot of the same clients I have known personally for the last 30 years or thereabouts”.

As clients’ needs evolve, GPX Rail similarly keeps ahead of change. Iarnród Eireann, now a client of some 15 years, is engaged in acquiring more passengers by providing more comfort and service frequency. Mick explains, “That leads to the need for upgrading existing lines and establishing new lines to allow for higher speeds, and that’s where we come in.”

What makes GPX Rail so different from its competitors and what makes it stand out from the crowd is its impeccable service. The welding service is a nationwide service, but how the firm introduces it and how they use it is unique - with in-

house training; the quality of the welders who are fully up-todate with new products and new equipment.

A major challenge in the industry is the size and complexity of the documentation that must accompany the completion of a job, as well as the numerous reports, a mountain of photographs is needed as a backup, not to mention all of the other required documentation. GPX Rail also applies and adheres to all its requirements from clients including the Irish Government and EU legislators, and the company is proud to hold certification for ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management and 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management.

“We are constantly monitoring and reviewing our process and procedures to achieve the highest standard in everything we do while reducing our impact on the environment”, Mick explains. “I am extremely proud of all of the positive feedback from numerous clients”. Eamonn Balance of Iarnród Eireann described GPX Rail’s service as “exemplary and a credit to the commitment to keeping the railway safe and available for operations”.

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Daktronics: The Sign Of The Times For over 40 years, Daktronics Ireland has guided and informed passengers and the public with its market-leading display solutions for transportation.

For over 40 years, Daktronics Ireland has been providing displays to the transportation market worldwide. Daktronics Ireland has been a trusted partner to Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) and knows the secret of its success goes beyond the supply of rugged, reliable display solutions.

A Centre of Excellence For Transportation From its beginnings in Brookings, South Dakota, in 1968 by two university engineering professors to its standing today as a NASDAQ-listed company with over 2,700 employees worldwide and installations in 120 countries, Daktronics has been guided by a simple mission: to deliver industryleading value to its customers by engaging employees through

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challenging and rewarding work opportunities.

The initial spark igniting the company was a desire by its founders, Drs. Aelred Kurtenbach and Duane Sander, to halt the brain drain of talented university students from South Dakota by creating a company whose innovative work encouraged them to stay.

This ethos of using local talent to build a strong, internationally operating business has been applied to Ireland, where Daktronics is a centre of excellence and international hub for transportation display solutions covering rail, metro, bus and tram, highways and airports.

Whilst the technology underpinning Daktronics’ displays is similar across the sports, entertainment, transportation, business, and advertising sectors, its application is individual to the customer’s unique needs.

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Helping To Keep Rail Passengers on Track The passenger experience of rail travel has changed considerably since the days of steam and personnel in uniforms patrolling the platforms announcing arrivals and departures. In modern Ireland, a rail station can often be an intermodal hub where passengers transit from one form of transport to another.

Increasingly, a station can also be a destination in its own right, with shops, bars and food outlets encouraging the public to linger and spend more time before their onward travel.

Passengers prioritise stress-free travel and value being kept informed at all times. During its long relationship with Irish Rail, Daktronics has installed displays that help make travel effortless.

Full-colour LED displays with narrow pixel pitch technology allow a dynamic and vibrant viewing experience even from close distances.

These displays can guide passengers through the station, announce arrivals, departures and boarding locations and reinforce audio announcements. They can also offer additional value to passengers with weather reports, safety announcements, news, and promotional information for services in the station and beyond. Daktronics’ displays can convey this information in two languages simultaneously without cluttering the screen, which is extremely important to the travelling public in Ireland.

Other Transport Applications Displays in airports have to consider passengers’ changing needs; clear and concise signs to guide people quickly to the correct check-in desks, security, or departure gates at the right time are essential. However, in between the frenetic activity are extended waiting periods in which passengers can benefit from eye-catching displays that highlight the attractions of travel destinations, showcase airport facilities and retail promotions or simply entertain and relax.

Whilst displays for passengers on foot can inform and entertain, the requirement for highway use is to convey clear, concise messaging to high-speed traffic. Monochrome or full-colour Variable Message Signs (VMS) are built to display symbols and text in a way that is designed for maximum driver comprehension in short viewing times.

Daktronics VMS displays are essential to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). They can inform, warn, or guide motorists depending on the traffic situation. Daktronics VMS displays are certified to comply with the requirements of the European EN12966 standard to ensure not just their durability, but also their brilliant legibility, superior luminance ratio, and efficient use of energy.

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Whilst displays

The Sign of Quality

for passengers on

smaller space, creating a tighter pixel pitch. The tighter the pixel pitch, the higher the resolution of the image. All this culminates in displays that look as good close up as they do at a distance and are, therefore, more engaging and immersive for the public. The technology is also lighter, smaller and more energy efficient.

Daktronics is proud to say that, from its beginnings in South Dakota, it has celebrated its ‘techiness’. A good percentage of Daktronics’ revenue is put back into research and development, not just on the displays themselves but also into all the ancillary technology to ensure that its customers are always assured of best-of-breed technology in their display solutions.

Robustness is critical for displays used in the transportation sector. They have to withstand not only the extremes of Irish weather but also dust, dirt, and occasional vandalism. Daktronics is a byword for quality and reliability, and its displays are built to last. The in-house Reliability Lab simulates the harshest conditions, testing displays to complete failure. In addition, third-party testing is utilised to verify inhouse results and ensure that displays can withstand the toughest of elements.

Platform and concourse signs are housed in vandal-resistant IP65-rated industrial-strength cabinets to keep dust and grime out. Where displays are too large for cabinets, the LEDs are given a durable coating to protect them against scratches and environmental damage.

Cabling, power supply and connectors are all protected from the elements, allowing maintenance wash-downs without damage.

This dedication to ruggedness and durability is one factor that sets Daktronics displays apart from the competition. Where a cheaper imported alternative may be expected to last five years, a Daktronics display board can be operational for over ten years, far above industry standards. Capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -35c to +55c, it’s fair to say that a Daktronics display will be working even when would-be passengers stay home, avoiding the elements.

A critical requirement of today’s public and private sector organisations is a commitment to sustainability from their suppliers, and this commitment is hardbaked into the Daktronics culture.

Members of the Daktronics team in Ireland were excited to attend the first Supply Chain Sustainability School earlier in the year. The initiative, which Irish Rail is a founding partner, launched in January 2024. It is based on a successful UK programme and is a free virtual learning platform aimed at upskilling those working within the built environment sector in the principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Challenges And Innovations

The Future Picture

Like most industries in today’s volatile geo-political and economic environment, the display sector faces challenges.

Supply chain issues brought about by COVID and amplified by conflict and instability in various parts of the world play out in longer lead times and higher prices for manufacturing components.

The pace of technological change also has its challenges but presents opportunities. The evolution from LCD to LED raises the challenge of offering both technologies in parallel, knowing that LCD continues to fulfil a function for customers in smaller display screen scenarios.

On the flipside, technological advancements represent fantastic opportunities to offer customers display products that are increasingly dynamic and sustainable. Chip on Board technology, a method of mounting red, green and blue chips directly onto printed circuit boards, enables Daktronics to achieve a far greater chip density than ever before, which, with the combination of three-colour values, allows a far greater colour range and truer to life imagery.

This type of technology allows more LEDs to fit into a

Daktronics Ireland’s focus for the foreseeable horizon is on expanding international business in transportation display solutions while maintaining and strengthening its long-standing relationships with customers in Ireland.

Irish Rail is a core element for Daktronics, and the close relationship allows an opportunity to showcase new technology in Ireland. Further afield, relationships with organisations such as Swiss Rail allow Daktronics to leverage innovations that can be applied to other markets.

Daktronics Ireland combines the surety and scale of an international business with the high customer care and local knowledge of a national business to deliver quality and confidence. Customers, such as Irish Rail, can be comfortable knowing that a Daktronics team member can be there quickly in person to talk through any issues or simply to kick around ideas.

The message from Daktronics is that, whatever the industry and the level, customers are assured of a product tailored to their specific needs that will work well for the entirety of its lifetime and that the lifetime will be long.

foot can inform and entertain,

the requirement for highway

use is to convey clear, concise messaging to

high-speed traffic.

Monochrome

Sustainability On Display

or full-colour

Variable Message Signs (VMS) are

built to display

symbols and text

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YOU’VE GOT PLACES TO BE

WE’LL HELP YOU GET THERE Find the perfect solution for your passenger’s needs at Daktronics.com/Transportation the Public Sector Magazine

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EXPERTS IN LIFTING & ENGINEERING FOR 127 YEARS • • • • • • •

Statutory inspections of lifting equipment Repair and maintenance of assets Crane maintenance & repair Design & fabrication Load testing PAT & HAV testing Plus, a huge stock of lifting & rigging products from leading brands.

WH Scott & Son Engineers Ltd is a market leader with a proven track record of delivering innovative and reliable products and services to customers across a wide variety of industries.

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Lifting Efficiency For over a decade, WH Scott & Son Engineers has worked with Irish Rail to ensure the safety and efficiency of Ireland’s railways.

WH Scott & Son’s long-standing relationship with Irish Rail stands as a testament to the firm’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards in equipment inspection and maintenance.

Safety is paramount. With extensive experience and expertise, WH Scott and Son has the vital task of conducting annual statutory lifting equipment inspections across 47 depots, covering up to 8,000 pieces of equipment.

The firm understands the critical role that these inspections play in ensuring IR assets are in perfect condition, with the impact of their work extending beyond the railway tracks. By diligently inspecting and maintaining lifting equipment, WH Scott & Son contributes to the overall efficiency and reliability of Irish Rail’s operations. Their efforts, combined with Irish Rail’s commitment to purchasing the safest and highest quality products, help prevent costly downtime and delays, allowing passengers to travel safely, trains to run smoothly, and railway workers operate in a safe capacity.

Each piece of equipment that is inspected is uploaded to the firm’s innovative online certification system, where customers can instantly access vital information such as inspection certificates, history, maintenance records and certification status.

This level of transparency enables them to work with the client easily and effectively, making informed decisions quickly and proactively address any issues that may arise.

Simplifying and streamlining their inspection process, how a customer receives their certificates and the ability to monitor the status of their equipment has always been one of WH Scott & Son’s top priorities. A recent development that has been successfully implemented throughout Inchicore works is QR codes. Following a statutory inspection of lifting equipment, each piece is affixed with a unique QR code that serves as a digital gateway to the most up-to-date inspection certification.

This QR code allows their engineers, maintenance personnel,

and regulatory authorities to easily scan and access relevant information using a smartphone or tablet.

One of the key benefits of the QR codes is their simplicity and ease of use. With a quick scan using any QR code reader app, users can instantly access detailed information about the equipment, including the date of the last inspection and the expiration date of the certification. This eliminates the need for manual record-keeping and cumbersome paperwork, saving time and reducing the risk of errors.

Alongside WH Scott & Son’s statutory inspection work, the firm has collaborated with Irish Rail on several crane projects within their facilities. These cranes are crucial when performing any maintenance on their trains and bogies, from lifting heavy components to performing safety inspections and testing, the cranes are a critical part of the company’s day-to-day works.

In 2022, the firm replaced Irish Rail’s lattice cranes, which were originally manufactured in the 1940s, updating their set up with two 25,000kg state-of-the-art overhead cranes and a 10,000kg low headroom design crane, all fitted with anti-collision, limit sensors, hook monitoring, hour counter, thermal motors and a flatscreen load monitoring display.

WH Scott & Son takes great pride in its ability to manage every stage of a crane project, from initial design and manufacture, through to installation, testing, and final certification. The firm not only delivers the highest standards of crane solutions, but also has a large catalogue of general lifting and rigging equipment and are one of the largest specialists in Ireland with regards to personal protection equipment. WH Scott & Son’s array of lifting equipment and services helps to ensure the success of its clients’ operations for years to come.

For more information on our inspection and maintenance services, QR codes, and fabrication projects, visit www.whscottlifting.com

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Green Building Council Championing sustainable transformation in Ireland

The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) was founded in 2011 as a non-profit organization. Its establishment was a collaborative effort involving a diverse group of stakeholders, including universities, professional institutes, NGOs, local authorities, contractors, architects, engineers, energy companies, and prominent national and transnational businesses. This coalition is unified by a common goal: to accelerate the transformation of Ireland’s built environment and related industries towards sustainability through leadership, research, education, and policy advocacy.

The IGBC’s mission is deeply rooted in fostering a sustainable built environment in Ireland. By integrating the entire value chain of the construction and real estate sectors, the organization seeks to drive significant changes in building methods, policies, and industry standards. Its core objectives revolve around enhancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting circular economy principles in the construction sector.

The IGBC has made substantial contributions to sustainability in Ireland by engaging various stakeholders to address and overcome the challenges in upgrading homes and businesses. One of its major initiatives includes the development and implementation of green building certifications and standards, which help ensure that new and existing buildings meet high sustainability criteria. Through its efforts, the IGBC has successfully influenced national policies and regulations, advocating for more robust and comprehensive sustainability measures in the built environment.

The organisations efforts are aligned with the overarching

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goals of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), of which IGBC is an active member. The WorldGBC is the largest and most influential local-regional-global action network, leading the transformation to sustainable and decarbonised built environments.

European Manifesto for a Sustainable Built Environment On April 16, 2024, the WorldGBC, in collaboration with 24 of its European Green Building Council members, including the IGBC, launched the European Manifesto for a Sustainable Built Environment in Brussels. This set of policy recommendations urges EU policymakers to prioritize sustainable building initiatives, highlighting the critical role of the construction sector in achieving energy security and economic stability.

The manifesto emphasises the need for deep renovation of existing buildings, elimination of carbon emissions across the lifecycle of buildings, and the creation of a circular economy by reducing construction waste. The manifesto addresses several critical areas, including carbon reduction, circular economy, health, water, finance, resilience, biodiversity, and just transition. Key recommendations include: Deep Renovation of Existing Buildings: Eliminating both operational and embodied carbon emissions across the lifecycle of all buildings by ensuring that all EU Taxonomy-eligible buildings are zero emissions in operation by 2035.

Circular Economy: Phasing out waste and optimizing the use

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and re-use of resources and materials, including a progressive landfill ban on non-hazardous construction and demolition waste.

Healthy and Resilient Buildings: Developing buildings and cities that improve public health and employment by implementing the Social Climate Fund earlier than planned to support low-income households in energy renovation work.

These recommendations aim to address energy security, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and create local jobs, making a compelling case for sustainable building policies.

More recently, Build Green Now 2024’, the flagship conference for IGBC members was held on May 3rd and provided a platform for national and international thought leaders to discuss the future of sustainable building practices and policies. The conference focussed on the theme that only a green revolution can deliver sustainable homes and liveable streets for all and addressed the implications of recent European legislation including the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the Construction Products Regulation, the Sustainable Finance Regulations Directive (SFRD), and the EU Taxonomy, on Ireland’s construction industry.

Speakers and panellists at the conference explored various topics, including the introduction of limit values for whole life carbon and international approaches to decarbonizing construction. The event also featured discussions on the circular economy and the role of urban areas in reducing land, resource use, and biodiversity loss. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the latest initiatives from the IGBC, including the launch of taxonomy verification.

No Time for Business as Usual Pat Barry, CEO of IGBC, emphasised the need for a revolutionary approach to building practices to meet climate targets and improve urban living quality.

“There’s no time for business as usual or for incremental steps. We can deliver sustainable and affordable homes, but we need a revolution in the way we think and act about buildings, infrastructure, and transport – and it needs to start now,” he said.

“But in doing so, we can create urban spaces that are greener, healthier, and offer a better quality of life for all.”

Marie Donnelly, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, concluded the conference by stressing the importance of specific and targeted actions to decarbonize the construction sector. She called for reducing emissions from materials like cement and increasing the use of sustainable timber, along with large-scale adoption of heat pumps and district heating systems.

One of the recent key focus areas for the IGBC is the development of a roadmap to decarbonize Ireland’s built environment across its entire lifecycle. This roadmap outlines the steps needed to reduce carbon emissions in the construction sector, from material sourcing and building design to construction processes and building operations. By setting clear targets and providing practical guidance, the IGBC aims to facilitate the transition to a low carbon-built environment, in line with Ireland’s climate goals.

The construction sector accounts for 37% of Ireland’s national emissions, and the roadmap aims to halve these emissions by 2030 and achieve full decarbonization by 2050. So far, 180 companies have endorsed the roadmap, and over 500

professionals have participated in IGBC’s training courses on embodied carbon and lifecycle costing.

The IGBC has played a crucial role in the introduction and adoption of green building standards and certifications, which have become benchmarks for sustainable construction practices in the country. Additionally, the IGBC has been instrumental in raising awareness and educating stakeholders about the importance of sustainable building practices through workshops, seminars, and training programs.

It is also developing a national methodology for Global Warming Potential (GWP) disclosure, in collaboration with the University of Galway, Construct Innovate, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and has also launched a guidance document for planners to address emissions from new housing developments.

The Build Up Skills 2030 (BUSI2030) initiative, involving IGBC, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), and other partners, developed a Sustainability Skills Roadmap for the built environment. This roadmap outlines the need for an additional 120,000 skilled construction workers and the reskilling of 164,000 existing workers by 2030 to meet Ireland’s housing and climate targets Creating a sustainable built environment is crucial for addressing global environmental challenges, including climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss. Buildings account for a significant portion of energy consumption and carbon emissions, making the construction sector a critical area for implementing sustainability measures. Sustainable buildings not only reduce environmental impact but also provide economic and social benefits, such as lower energy costs, improved public health, and increased job opportunities.

For 2024, the IGBC) has set forth key priorities to enhance sustainability and resilience within the built environment. One major focus is promoting deep renovation of existing buildings to significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The IGBC also aims to advance circular economy principles by reducing construction waste and optimizing resource use and reuse, ensuring sustainable development practices.

Additionally, the IGBC emphasises enhancing building resilience by developing structures and cities capable of withstanding environmental challenges and contributing positively to public health. Policy advocacy remains a critical priority, with efforts to collaborate with policymakers to develop and implement robust sustainability policies.

Furthermore, the IGBC is dedicated to continuing education and awareness initiatives to engage and inform stakeholders through various events and programs, fostering a culture of sustainability in the construction industry.

The Irish Green Building Council is at the forefront of transforming Ireland’s built environment towards sustainability.

Through its comprehensive approach, involving policy advocacy, education, and stakeholder engagement, the IGBC is driving significant changes in the construction industry. Its efforts, in line with the objectives of the World Green Building Council, are pivotal in creating a sustainable, low carbon-built environment that benefits the economy, society, and the planet.

As the IGBC continues to champion sustainable building practices, it sets a strong example for other organisations and countries to follow

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Home Building Finance Ireland Supporting the delivery of new social and affordable homes around Ireland

A HBFI-funded development of 8 new social homes acquired by Offaly County Council.

Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) was established by the government in 2019 to increase the supply of residential development finance for new homes. It operates on a commercial basis and is designed to provide funding to builders and developers for viable residential developments. HBFI has been designed to provide an additional financing option and to compliment the funding options available from the main banks and alternative lenders.

When HBFI launched in 2019, it offered a single product to builders and developers. The finance offering has now evolved into five separate products created to meet various challenges and gaps in the market. These products include: n Small Development Product; n Housing and Apartment Development Product; n Social/Affordable Housing Product; n Green Funding Product; and, n Accelerate Product for developers who have a demonstrated record of delivering schemes of 100 units or more per annum.

HBFI provides loan facilities for the development of both social and affordable housing schemes and schemes delivered for the private market.

Progress to Date In January 2024, HBFI marked 5 years since its establishment and had approved over €1.65 billion in funding to support the delivery of 8,495 new homes across 129 developments in 22 counties, the original target was to support 7,500 new homes in this period.

Of HBFI approvals to December 2023, 2,658 were for Social/ Affordable homes and 401 for Part V with these facilities located in 21 counties around the country. 31% of all funding approved

by HBFI to date has been for Social/Affordable Homes with an additional 5% for Part V housing.

Working with Local Authorities and Affordable Housing Bodies Along with private housing schemes, HBFI has funded numerous social and affordable schemes. HBFI has also been able to facilitate the funding of development on local authority lands by developers under a license agreement. This structure does not allow the funder to take security on the land, however, HBFI has been able to provide a funding solution to several such schemes.

HBFI has also financed Cost Rental projects and has recently concluded its first transaction of this type. It is anticipated that this will be an area of significant growth for HBFI as the new Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental Investment Scheme (STAR) gains further traction and the Land Development Agency (LDA) ramps up delivery over the coming years.

For turnkey transactions HBFI offers builders and developers funding of up to 85% of the cost of the entire social or affordable project. The approach is flexible and funding requirements are tailored on a case-by-case basis to suit the individual needs of the scheme.

HBFI’s business development team is regionally based and is available to meet with prospective customers, Local Authorities and Affordable Housing Bodies (AHBs) in-person and on-site to discuss available funding options.

The team at HBFI are committed to continue working with Local Authorities, AHBs and developers to further increase the supply of social, affordable, and private market homes and assist the government in reaching its Housing for All targets.

For more information on HBFI visit www.hbfi.ie or call 01 2384600.

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Positioning wood as the sustainable building material of the future Coillte’s forestry strategic vision aims to balance and deliver the multiple benefits of its forests for climate, nature, wood, and people.

For Coillte this is a long-term vision that will see new forests created, existing forests managed for greater carbon capture, enhanced biodiversity and more recreation spaces for people to enjoy. Coillte has also an ambition to support the creation of new homes by delivering sustainably grown Irish wood products to build low-carbon houses and support the decarbonisation of the built environment.

In the period to 2030, Coillte plans to produce 25 million m3 of certified Irish wood to support the delivery of Ireland’s

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Climate Action Plan which seeks to cut the embodied carbon emissions for materials produced and used in Ireland by at least 30 per cent. It will also continue to promote the increased use of wood products to raise the level of homegrown wood use in the construction of housing from its current low level of 20 per cent to 80 per cent by 2050.

The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050, an objective that is at the heart of the European Green Deal and its strategy for a sustainable built environment. Today, construction and

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the building sector represent 38 per cent of global energy related CO2eq emissions, and with the focus now firmly on decarbonisation, the traditional methods with which we construct our built environment are now being challenged.

In Ireland, there is an urgent need for new homes to satisfy demand, and we need to transition away from carbon intensive building materials and move to more low carbon, sustainable building solutions. This drive to decarbonise can be achieved by increasing the adoption of timber frame for new homes and by unlocking the market for emerging technologies such as mass timber1 for medium rise residential and commercial buildings.

Because of its significant environmental credentials, wood is now being repositioned as a more sustainable building material. Wood products have the lowest embodied carbon of any mainstream building materials, a fundamental point now recognised by design practitioners world-wide who are designing and building multi-storey, mass timber skyscrapers.

These high-rise residential and commercial buildings are manufactured from engineered wood, off-site, in qualitycontrolled factory environments and delivered and erected on site in a matter of days. These new building solutions are being rolled out across Europe but unlike our European counterparts, Ireland does not have a longstanding culture of using timber 1 What is Mass Timber: Mass timber is a group of construction products comprising layers of timber boards bonded together to form high-performance structural beams, columns or panels, which are then used for framing, walls, floors, and roof structures.

Commonly referred to as Glulam or Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) these technologies were developed in the 1990s and are now extensively used throughout Europe for medium and high-rise residential and commercial applications.

in construction and historically, our design practitioners need guidance and support to assist them to specify correctly.

We are however, beginning to see a change, as the timber frame market experiences growth, and developers begin to reap the rewards of faster construction programmes, less on-site waste, and lower embodied carbon. In the coming years, we expect to see further increased demand for wood and more timber frame homes.

This will present significant opportunities for our forest products sector to stimulate further investment to drive sustained growth in timber processing, grown sustainably, and in the research and development of new low-carbon wood and wood-based products, components and building systems. This in turn will underpin new green jobs across the forestry supply chain and support the move to off-site modern methods of construction.

Ireland is also uniquely positioned to grow quality wood required for construction. Softwood sourced from coniferous trees such as Sitka spruce is the most popular type of wood used for construction worldwide due to its ease to work with, coupled with the fast growth rate of the trees themselves. In continental Europe a spruce tree may take up to 100 years to reach maturity, while in Ireland it can take as little as 35 years.

This gives Ireland a fantastic opportunity to grow construction grade timber sustainably and quickly, creating a secure and independent homegrown supply while also reducing pressure on old growth forests elsewhere in the world. Using wood in this manner drives the bioeconomy, decarbonising the construction sector with sustainability at its heart – for every tree harvested Coillte replants three trees in its place.

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There is also significant interest among the development community to utilise mass timber for medium rise construction here in Ireland. However, while mass timber buildings of up to 25 stories are safely constructed in other countries, Ireland’s building regulations currently restrict the use of limited combustible materials, such as timber, to buildings of up to three storeys. It is expected that the recently established Interdepartmental and Industry Timber in Construction Steering group will play a pivotal role, and with this collaborative approach, a framework can be created to work through the current barriers thereby allowing this form of more sustainable construction to become mainstream.

To support the increased use of timber, a range of measures are needed to facilitate, support and drive the necessary innovations and technology adoptions for timber based modern methods of construction. A fast-track approach is required to develop more advanced regulations, standards and statutory guidance documents that allow the adoption of low carbon timber building systems whilst ensuring the highest degree of building safety.

A better understanding of the benefits of building with wood is needed as well as the provision of the necessary technical guidance and support to our design professionals. Focusing on training and skills development will no doubt enable a platform to support the decarbonisation of the built environment.

Timber based modern methods of construction offer a valuable solution to several issues facing housing delivery in Ireland: increasing the speed of delivery, delivering more sustainable homes, reducing the reliance for onsite labour, decarbonising our built environment, and supporting Ireland’s

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Net Zero ambitions. Other jurisdictions are already advancing their timber revolution. Ireland needs to transition to a new low carbon building model fast, for the sake of our future.

ABOUT AUTHOR: Des O’Toole is a structural engineer and business development professional working with Coillte with a career spanning a range of senior technical, operational, sales, marketing, and communications roles over 30 years in the forestry and forest products sector.

Working closely with industry, he leads the marketing and promotion of homegrown timber products and supports the Irish forest products sector to drive growth in end markets and to promote and support innovation and product development. He is also a wood scientist, member of the NSAI Timber Standards Consultative Committee, current member of the Timber in Construction Steering group responsible for education and training, past President of the Irish Bioenergy Association and has co-authored a 400-page timber specifiers guide called Woodspec.

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Forests for wood

Forests for people Forests for climate

Forests for nature

Coillte cares for Ireland’s forests sustainably. As our country seeks to combat climate change, we’ll do more.

Our ambition is to create new forests, manage our existing forests for greater carbon capture and provide more habitats to enhance biodiversity. We’ll support the creation of new homes by delivering sustainable Irish wood products. And we’ll increase the number of beautiful forest recreation spaces for everyone to enjoy. www.coillte.ie

#greenerfuture4all

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Ireland’s Premier Coach Hire Company +353 (0) 1 8473487 info@nolancoaches.ie www.nolancoaches.ie 166

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Nolan Coaches Nolan Coaches provides a full range of coach and bus services in Dublin, Leinster and Ireland. Services including school transport, local and national tours, sporting events, work shuttles, conferences, and airport transfers.

Jimmy Nolan founded the company 82 years ago and over the past ten years, Nolan Coaches has expanded and grown from having five employees and four coaches in 2010 to having 32 full-time employees, part-time staff and five office staff. The company has continuously evolved and embraced the changing world of technology from a relatively early stage.

Nolan Coaches now operates 24 units varying in size, from 12-seaters to 76-seater double-deckers. The company enjoys an annual turnover of more than 2.5 million euro.

Over the past ten years, the main challenges have been the collapse of the global economy and the Coronavirus pandemic.

With this in mind, Nolan Coaches extended their services to large, well-established companies. The company now provides clients with shuttle services for their staff, offering safe and comfortable transport while reducing the carbon footprint of the companies they provide services to.

Nolan Coaches remains relevant by regularly consulting with clients, listening to their needs and requirements, and constantly upgrading services.

According to General Manager Garret O’Toole, the biggest surprise of the business market to date has been the resilience of the human spirit and the ability and desire to continue in the face of adversity. “The determination of larger companies to protect their staff during the pandemic has been inspiring. By utilising companies such as Nolan to provide bespoke and safe modes of transport to/from the workplace, they ensure their staff remained safe.”

Nolan Coaches team is available to discuss any issues

24 hours a day, seven days a week. Buses and coaches are immaculately kept, and drivers present themselves in uniform daily to uphold the company’s professional standards. Nolan is also very flexible regarding price, with a view to the bigger picture when discussing rates and terms with customers.

“Nolan Coaches strives to deliver slightly more than promised and we never take a client for granted,” continues Garret. “Every job is the most important one we’ve ever done.”

The company identifies every client’s needs by using close and considered observation and, most importantly, by regularly communicating with customers about current and future requirements.

The Nolan philosophy has always been that you’re only as strong as the weakest link.

Staff are divided into structured and well organised teams.

Each team is motivated by bonus/holiday incentives and financially rewarded.

“We try to maintain a balanced approach to work/life and each staff member is continuously motivated and made to feel that they are an important and valued member of a successful team,” Garrett adds.

Nolan Coaches has expanded its business 13-fold and has successfully acquired the custom of large, blue-chip companies while maintaining its core business. This has enabled the firm to grow by combining the old with the new and maximising its units throughout a 24-hour day.

Looking ahead, Nolan has many new projects in the pipeline and the future looks bright for this growing company.

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Bright Future for Biomass Examining potential, progress and strategy in Ireland’s bioenergy sector.

Bioenergy is the largest source of renewable energy globally and plays a crucial role in reducing harmful emissions and combating climate change. Ireland is increasingly recognizing the potential of bioenergy, particularly in the context of its climate action goals. Ireland’s bioenergy sector encompasses various sources, including solid biomass, biogas/biomethane, liquid biofuels, and biochar.

Bioenergy not only helps in diversifying the energy mix but also contributes significantly to emission reductions, according to the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA), which was established in 1999 in order to promote the bioenergy industry in Ireland.

IrBEA serves a diverse membership, including farmers, fuel suppliers, energy developers, and researchers, and focuses on influencing policy, promoting member interests, improving public awareness, networking, and project implementation.

IrBEA is affiliated with the European Biomass Association and the European Biogas Association.

Governance and strategic oversight is provided by a Management Committee, with support from a small Executive Team. IrBEA is affiliated to AEBIOM, the European Biomass Association and the European Biogas Association (EBA).

Towards the end of last year IBEA’s held its 22nd National Bioenergy Conference, titled “Bioenergy’s Essential Role in Emissions Reduction and the Energy Transition,” at the Royal

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Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire, which is heated by a woodchip boiler, symbolizing the practical application of bioenergy., The conference, co-sponsored by Bord na Móna and Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), highlighted bioenergy’s critical role in Ireland’s path to net zero emissions and emphasised the need for a comprehensive renewable energy policy incorporating all forms of bioenergy GNI has been actively promoting the development of an indigenous biomethane industry. According to GNI’s Biomethane Energy Report, which is based on responses to a Request for Information (RFI) there is the potential to achieve an annual production potential of 14.8 TWh of biomethane by 2030, which far exceeds the government’s target of 5.7 TWh. The GNI Biomethane Energy Report reveals substantial potential for biomethane production in Ireland, as indicated by responses from 176 prospective producers. The data suggests a collective annual production potential of 14.8 TWh, with a median plant production capacity of 40 GWh per annum.

Notably, the median distance from these production sites to the gas network is a manageable 5 kilometres, facilitating efficient integration into the existing gas infrastructure.

Moreover, the adoption of biomethane could lead to significant environmental benefits, with projected emission reductions of 3.94 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents annually

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by 2030. This would enable biomethane to contribute to approximately 26% of Ireland’s total gas demand, highlighting its pivotal role in advancing the country’s energy sustainability and carbon reduction goals.

The publication of Ireland’s National Biomethane Strategy on May 28, 2024, marked a significant milestone in the country’s renewable energy agenda. The strategy aims to develop a robust biomethane industry, targeting a production of up to 5.7 TWh per annum by 2030.

The strategy is structured around five interlinking pillars designed to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable approach to biomethane production and utilization. The first pillar, Sustainability, focuses on promoting environmentally responsible production practices while the second pillar, Demand for Biomethane, aims to create and expand the market for biomethane, fostering its adoption across various sectors.

The third pillar, Bioeconomy and Circular Economy, seeks to integrate biomethane production into the broader bioeconomy, promoting resource efficiency and waste minimization while the fourth element, Economics of Biomethane, addresses the financial aspects, ensuring the economic viability of biomethane projects.

Finally, the fifth pillar, Enabling Policy Requirements, aims to establish a supportive regulatory framework to facilitate the growth of the biomethane sector.

To achieve these strategic goals, several key measures and actions have been outlined. These include the development of a Biomethane Sustainability Charter to guide sustainable practices, and the formation of an Interdepartmental Biomethane Implementation Group to coordinate efforts across government departments.

Additionally, the strategy involves the implementation of 25 strategic actions aligned with the five pillars, ensuring a cohesive and comprehensive approach. Financial mechanisms such as capital grants and a renewable heat obligation are also being introduced to support the economic viability of biomethane projects, thereby ensuring a robust and sustainable biomethane industry Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, launched the strategy and emphasised the role of farmers in the sustainable production of biomethane and the broader decarbonization effort “Farmers will be central to production of this renewable source of energy and thereby major players in the decarbonisation of our energy system through the development of a sustainable biomethane sector,” he said.

IrBEA also welcomed the publication of the strategy but stressed the need for further market certainty to attract investment. Seán Finan, IrBEA CEO, highlighted concerns over capital grants potentially driving up costs and advocated for an operational support mechanism akin to successful models in other European countries.

IrBEA also emphasized the need for meaningful industry engagement in the strategy’s implementation.

“The publication of the biomethane strategy is another step forward in the development of the industry in Ireland. Seán Finan, IrBEA CEO said. “The initial feedback from members on the strategy is that further market certainty will be required to attract investment and to make projects fundable and viable.

While capital grants and the renewable heat obligation (RHO) are outlined as mechanisms to stimulate a market for biomethane, further details and long-term certainty will be required on these

measures to encourage investment.”

“IrBEA members in their response to the initial consultation on the draft strategy indicated their concerns regarding capital grants driving up development costs and favoured an ongoing operational support mechanism. It’s disappointing this has not been considered, explored or referenced in the strategy. Ongoing operational support has been the funding mechanism of choice used in many developing and established European biomethane markets including Denmark which is broadly lauded as a best practice example.

Given the cost of feedstock and ongoing feeding requirements of a biomethane system, the fundamental question of AD plant economic viability exists. A capital grant alone or with an obligation will not eliminate this viability challenge.”

“The strategy is another step toward the mobilisation of the biomethane industry. We must move quickly towards implementation to deliver on the ambition and targets set out by the Government.”

IFA President Francie Gorman said that the Biomethane Strategy published by the Government will not be enough to develop the scale a biomethane sector would need to meet the targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2024.

“The Government has a target of trying to produce 5.7 Terawatt hours (TWhs) of biomethane through the construction of 200 Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants by 2030,” he commented. “If the Government is serious about this, it will require a lot more funding than €40m. Countries such as Denmark have successfully developed a biomethane sector, but they committed multiples of this figure in funding.”

“There are also other logistical issues that need to be ironed out, including the classification of the by-products such as digestate,” he said.

“Overall, there is certainly potential to develop an indigenous AD industry in Ireland, but the discussion needs to be much more inclusive of farmers or there is a real danger that AD will become the preserve of big business,” he said.

Ireland’s bioenergy sector, particularly through the development of a robust biomethane industry, holds significant potential for contributing to the country’s renewable energy mix and emission reduction targets. The publication of the National Biomethane Strategy marks a crucial step in this direction.

However, achieving the ambitious targets set out in the strategy will require comprehensive and inclusive stakeholder engagement, substantial financial support, and a conducive regulatory environment. The reactions from IrBEA and the IFA underscore the need for continued dialogue and strategic adjustments to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of Ireland’s bioenergy sector.

IRELAND’S NATIONAL BIOMETHANE STRATEGY Key Measures and Actions n Development of a Biomethane Sustainability Charter. n Formation of an Interdepartmental Biomethane Implementation Group. n Implementation of 25 strategic actions aligned with the five pillars. n Financial mechanisms including capital grants and a renewable heat obligation.

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‘Climate Conversation 2023’ The “Climate Conversation 2023” report is a comprehensive analysis compiled by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA). This initiative is part of Ireland’s national strategy to engage citizens and stakeholders across society in meaningful climate action.

Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan highlighted the visible progress, such as the increasing number of solar panels being installed across the country, as evidence of the public’s readiness to adopt greener practices when they see tangible benefits for themselves and their communities.

The report synthesizes insights from over 12,000 individuals who participated in various formats, including online surveys, workshops, and in-depth interviews. This extensive engagement underscores the government’s commitment to understanding public sentiment and barriers related to climate action, aiming to bridge the gap between awareness and effective action.

The primary objective of the Climate Conversation 2023 report is to capture the attitudes, behaviours, and barriers faced by the Irish public concerning climate action. By identifying these factors, the report aims to inform policymaking, enhance public engagement, and promote equitable and inclusive strategies for a low-carbon future.

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A significant focus is placed on the concept of a just transition, ensuring that all sectors of society are considered in climate policies, and that the transition to a carbon-neutral economy does not disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.

The report reveals that while awareness of climate change is high among the Irish public, there is a notable lack of urgency and understanding of individual impacts. This disconnect results in a significant gap between climate intentions and actual behaviors. Although many people express a willingness to adopt more sustainable practices, such as switching to electric vehicles (EVs) or installing solar panels, practical concerns and uncertainties hinder these actions.

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The report highlights a lack of clarity among the public about which actions have the most significant environmental impact. For example, many people do not recognise that driving an EV is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions

Barriers to Climate Action Several barriers to effective climate action were identified:

1. Cost and Practical Concerns

Many respondents are concerned about the financial implications and practicalities of switching to EVs, including the cost, range, and infrastructure availability. Similarly, the payback period for solar panel investments and the complexities of retrofitting homes deter people from taking these steps.

2. Cultural and Generations Attitudes

Resistance to change is influenced by cultural identity and generational habits. For instance, many men are reluctant to reduce meat consumption, and older individuals find it challenging to move away from traditional heating methods like open fires.

3. Perceived inequities

Climate policies are often viewed as being middle-class, urbancentric, and disconnected from the realities of rural and regional populations. This perception leads to feelings of alienation among these communities, particularly among farmers and older citizens who feel their identities and livelihoods are being overlooked.

The report highlights a lack of clarity among the public about which actions have the most significant environmental impact. For example, many people do not recognise that driving an EV is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions. This misinformation contributes to inefficient prioritisation of climate actions.

Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, welcomed the report, emphasizing the crucial role of public and community engagement in driving climate action. He highlighted the visible progress, such as the increasing number of solar panels being installed across the country, as evidence of the public’s readiness to adopt greener practices when they see tangible benefits for themselves and their communities.

Minister Ryan stressed the importance of connecting with people in a meaningful way to ensure the success of the transition to a low-carbon economy. He stated, “If there’s one really salient issue from this report, it’s that every aspect of climate action must be viewed through a just transition lens. If we don’t have a fair transition, it won’t be fast, and if we don’t have a fast transition, it won’t be fair for anyone.”

The Climate Conversation 2023 report provides valuable insights into the barriers and motivators of climate action among the Irish public. It highlights the importance of addressing practical concerns, cultural identities, and generational attitudes to foster a more inclusive and effective approach to climate action. The findings also call for clearer communication about the impact of various actions to guide the public toward more impactful changes.

The report serves as a crucial tool for policymakers, helping to shape strategies that resonate with the public and support a just transition. By leveraging these insights, the Irish government aims to enhance engagement and drive more substantial and widespread climate actions, ensuring that the transition to a sustainable future is both equitable and effective.

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Sustainable Waste Recovery Bioregen is a leader in the recycling and recovering of wastes and byproducts in Ireland for positive uses.

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Services Bioresources

Anaerobic Digestion

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Converting Waste and By-Products into Positive Uses

Green Waste, Food Waste & Composting

Based in County Cork, Bioregen enables organisations to reduce LINKS their carbon footprint and participate in the circular economy Home Services by turning wastes, byproducts and other items into fertiliser, Contact recycled products and green energy.

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as sludge and biosolids. Rich in nutrients, these bioresources Telephone: 023 8849000 can offset traditional chemical fertilisers used by the agricultural Email: info@bioregen.ie Barleyfield industry and aid soil activity.

Kilbrittain Bioregen is proud of its extensive and loyal client base, Co.Cork which it can leverage to supply byproducts and wastes for use NWCPO-23-12960-01 as Anaerobic Digestion (AD) feedstock. Additionally, Bioregen CIRCOL ELT Member No.8325 can supply landbanks to recover nutrient-rich digestate while meeting all associated compliance requirements and affording clients the benefit of having a single point of contact for both facility operator and farmer throughout the process.

It is estimated that Ireland produces around 1.1 million tonnes of food waste a year, excluding primary production from fishing, farming, and aquaculture. an unacceptable Home Contact Currently, Privacy Policy amount ends up in landfills,Wewhere it has no further lifeon our aswebsite. a are using cookies to give you the best experience Accept Reject Settings Copyright BioRegen !

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Calling All Researchers resource but produces methane, a damaging greenhouse gas.

Forestry and farming also produce large amounts of green Research is critical to unlocking new discoveries, products waste, and with the Irish government’s November 2023 ban on and processes that have the potential to turbocharge Ireland’s burning green waste, recovering the material for sustainable transition from a linear to a circular economy. Bioregen alternative uses is a necessity, not an option.

Bioregen is on hand to help organisations unleash the positive welcomes the opportunity to work with academic or industryled research teams on their field-based trials. uses and potential cost savings associated with recovering these The Bioregen team’s deep practical experience, waste byproducts. The team will assess the material and advise complemented by the company’s extensive landbank and on its suitability as a soil conditioner or fertiliser. facility resources, enables them to run and oversee trials tailored The water and sewage treatment process also produces to the research team’s unique requirements. byproducts that can be turned into valuable bioresources, such

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Trials done in partnership with Biogen are scalable and can be carried out under various conditions. Additionally, researchers can control the amount of input they provide into the trial, making the entire process highly flexible.

Bioregen is happy to provide a no-obligation consultation to any research team that is planning to run field trials.

Nutrient Management Planning (NMP) Farmers and commercial operators know nutrient management is critical to maximising production while avoiding or mitigating adverse environmental effects. A good NMP meets all legal requirements, avoids waste in unused or unnecessary nutrients, achieves the desired nutrient levels and production and minimises the risk of environmental damage.

Bioregen tailors its NMPs for the soil type and location, the material for recovery, including any required storage, and its application rate. The plans account for high-risk zones and watercourse protection and follow all compliance and guidelines for material application.

The NMP process at Bioregen begins with a thorough assessment of the land’s use and suitability for recovering the proposed material. After that, a plan is drawn up to integrate the material into the farm’s fertiliser program to maximise its nutritional value.

In addition, Bioregen can offer its substantial landbank to recover alternative fertilisers, sludges and byproducts or recommend sites suited to the material and volume located as

close as possible to the point of origin to reduce transport costs and increase sustainability.

Carbon Partnerships Estimating carbon sequestration in the agricultural sector is currently less advanced than that in the forestry sector, making carbon assessment in farming more challenging. However, ongoing research into this area is starting to yield results and is producing more data about sequestration at the farm level.

Bioregen uses various established estimates for agricultural sequestration calculations. It can link organisations interested in establishing long-term carbon offset arrangements with farmers, land-owners and forestry operators in its client network.

It is hoped that a universally recognised structure for valuing carbon savings will be established in the near future.

The Future of Waste Recovery The Bioregen story is rooted in recovering materials that traditionally went to waste and facilitating their transformation into valuable resources that form part of a circular economy in Ireland.

Bioregen’s history, expertise and landbank allow it to manage and oversee the entire end-to-end process for clients, from transportation, treatment and storage of the material to conversion and reuse as compost, fertiliser, green energy or recycled product.

The team at Bioregen are delighted to advise and discuss the requirements of new clients who are ready to reduce their carbon footprint and be part of Ireland’s green transformation.

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Making Farming Climate Friendly Irish farmers are grappling with the significant challenge of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the targets required under the Climate Action Plan.

Ireland’s cows, numbering 7.1m, including 1.6m dairy cows, produce significant methane emissions through belching and are a major contributor to the country’s high per capita methane emissions.

Farming, particularly dairy and beef, plays a critical role in Ireland’s economy. The dairy industry alone, which is valued at €13.1 billion annually, supports 54,000 jobs and generated €6.8 billion in exports in 2022. The beef sector, while smaller, is still significant, with Irish beef being a notable export. This economic importance makes the implementation of climate measures particularly sensitive and challenging.

Agriculture is a substantial contributor to Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly 40% of the national total. Methane emissions from cattle are particularly problematic, and Ireland’s cows, numbering 7.1m, including 1.6m dairy cows, produce significant methane emissions through belching and are a major contributor to the country’s high per capita methane emissions.

The Climate Action Plan is targeting a 51% reduction in overall emissions by 2030, with a specific 25% cut from the agricultural sector. This ambitious target necessitates substantial changes in farming practices. Despite existing measures like low-emission slurry spreading and the use of protected urea, the current level of progress is insufficient.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that Ireland is significantly off track in meeting its climate targets. The agency’s latest analysis predicts only a 29% overall emissions reduction by 2030, well short of the 51% target. For agriculture,

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the EPA projects a mere 1% reduction in emissions by 2030 under current measures, increasing to 18% with additional measures. This stark forecast underscores the urgent need for intensified efforts across all sectors.

In 2022, agricultural emissions decreased by only 1.2%, far below the required reduction rate.

Irish farmers have expressed frustration and concern over the EPA’s findings. While acknowledging the need for further action, they highlight the considerable efforts already made, such as a 30% reduction in inorganic fertilizer use over two years. The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and other farming representative groups are calling for more support and faster approvals for initiatives like slurry storage improvements. They emphasise the importance of sector-wide implementation and the removal of bureaucratic roadblocks to accelerate progress.

Meeting the emissions targets will profoundly impact farming practices. A leaked government document suggested culling 200,000 dairy cows in order to meet the 2030 targets sparked considerable controversy. While the prospect has so far been dismissed, many farmers see it as an inevitable step and warn that it will threaten the profitability and viability of dairy farming.

The Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc) indicates that emissions targets can be achieved through widespread adoption of new technologies and practices. A recent

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report highlights a potential 14% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer use as a key driver of emissions reduction and Teagasc forecasts that with comprehensive adoption of these measures, agricultural emissions could fall to 17 million tonnes by 2030, aligning closely with the 17.25 million tonnes target.

However, further reductions to 16.4 million tonnes could be achieved if cattle numbers decreased to 6.5 million.

However, there is a strong body of opinion calling for the rapid and comprehensive adoption of new technologies and practices, supported by government incentives and streamlined processes, as the most effective means of achieving 2030 targets. The concept of a voluntary herd reduction scheme, with payments to farmers for reducing cattle numbers, is one promising approach. Additionally, diversification into tillage and anaerobic digestion can help offset emissions.

A further Teagasc study reveals that smaller Irish farms, despite having low carbon footprints and producing minimal income, are less carbon efficient compared to larger farms. The study, focusing on farms averaging around 13 hectares with small numbers of cattle or sheep, found that these 48,000 farms make up about 15% of Ireland’s agricultural land. In 2022, the average income for these farms was merely €2,638, with 80% of these farms relying on additional income from pensions or offfarm employment.

Notably, while these farms contribute just 4% of the total agricultural emissions in Ireland, they account for 35% of all farms. The key finding highlights that smaller farms generate more greenhouse gas emissions per kilo of meat than their larger counterparts, indicating lower carbon efficiency.

The study also emphasises the ecological significance of these low-intensity farms as potential reservoirs of biodiversity. The demographic profile of farmers on these small farms shows an average age of 60, with varied future plans. About 35% intend to maintain their current farming practices over the next five years, 27% plan to lease their land, and 20% expect to reduce or change their farming systems.

Meanwhile, the remainder foresee either farming with a successor or scaling up their activities. Interestingly, over half of those continuing in agriculture expressed an interest in transitioning to organic farming, reflecting a potential shift towards more sustainable farming practices.

Ireland’s first Climate Change Assessment Report (ICCA), compiled by the EPA and published earlier this year provided a comprehensive and authoritative analysis of the current state of climate knowledge and its implications for Ireland. The report is based on extensive scientific research and observations in Ireland, integrated with EU and global research findings. It stresses the urgent need for robust action to mitigate climate change effects and adapt to its impacts, warning that climate change is a present reality impacting various sectors, especially agriculture.

Highlighting agriculture as a sector significantly impacted by climate change, the ICC report presents a mixture of potential benefits and severe risks. One of the key findings is the dual impact on crop productivity. While certain crops might see a boost in productivity due to warmer temperatures, the sector faces considerable risks from intense droughts that can lead to significant crop losses. Additionally, the report warns of an increased prevalence of pests and pathogens, which pose a threat to both arable and livestock farming, potentially disrupting food

supply and agricultural stability.

Water quality and nutrient runoff are also critical concerns outlined in the ICCA report. Increased precipitation and its intensity can result in greater nutrient washout from farmland, leading to detrimental effects on water quality. This highlights the need for significant mitigation efforts to manage these environmental impacts and achieve deep emission reductions.

The report underscores the necessity for comprehensive strategies to prevent further degradation of water resources and to protect ecosystems from the adverse effects of nutrient runoff.

Agricultural emissions present another major challenge for Ireland. The country has higher emissions of methane and nitrous oxide compared to other EU nations, primarily due to the substantial contribution of agriculture to its national emissions. The ICCA report emphasizes the need to reduce livestock numbers and adopt alternative land use strategies to mitigate these emissions.

It advocates for optimal livestock management measures, such as improving herd genetics, enhancing animal health, and promoting efficient feeding strategies, as vital steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector.

Moreover, the report identifies a significant research gap in determining feasible emission levels that can be balanced with sustainable land-use practices. Addressing this gap is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies that are both practical and impactful. The report also highlights afforestation and the rewetting of organic soils as critical actions needed to achieve net-zero emissions in the land-use sector. By exploring and implementing these strategies, Ireland can make substantial progress in mitigating climate change impacts on its agriculture, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future for the sector.

Laura Burke, EPA’s director general, emphasized that the ICCA report represents a major contribution to understanding the impacts and challenges posed by climate change in Ireland.

She stressed the need for Ireland to accelerate its actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changing climate.

“The assessment provides a picture of where Ireland is in its response the climate emergency. It provides insights as to the scale of the challenge for Ireland to become climate neutral and climate resilient.

“It reinforces the need for Ireland to pick up the pace of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to our changed and future climate,” she added.

The ICCA report underscores the urgent need for significant mitigation efforts within the agricultural sector to address climate change. While the report identifies several strategies to reduce emissions, it also highlights numerous challenges, including slow adoption rates, high costs of implementation, and various barriers faced by farmers. The findings call for a coordinated approach, involving enhanced research, government support, and sectorwide collaboration to achieve Ireland’s climate goals.

Irish farmers face a formidable challenge in meeting the country’s climate action targets. While the economic significance of agriculture and the environmental impact of current practices present substantial obstacles, a combination of innovative practices, supportive policies, and sector-wide collaboration holds the potential to achieve meaningful emissions reductions. With determined effort and the right measures in place, Ireland can transition to a more sustainable agricultural model, contributing positively to global climate goals.

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Crafting Strategies Resolving Challenges

Matheson LLP has one of the largest most experienced multi-disciplinary and skilled Construction & Engineering practices in Ireland. The team’s construction specialists are frontrunners and thought leaders in crafting procurement strategies in the public and private sectors and in advising on the full life cycle of large scale developments. In addition, our highly experienced team are market leaders in the field of contentious and non-contentious construction law using their deep knowledge and expertise to provide practical and commercially focused legal advice.

Visit www.matheson.com

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Corporate Sustainability After a volatile political journey, the EU is poised to adopt the new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CS3D”) in the coming months, after being approved by the European Parliament in April 2024. Matheson’s Garret Farrelly explains.

CS3D will, when adopted, require EU member states to introduce laws requiring in-scope companies to significantly enhance environmental and human rights due diligence in their business conduct.

Due diligence requirements The version of CS3D endorsed by the European Parliament has changed significantly from the version initially proposed by the Commission in February 2022. In particular, aspects of the proposed CS3D were cut back, in light of concerns raised by several EU member states about the possible administrative burden for companies in their jurisdictions. Under the text approved by the European Parliament, in-scope companies would be required to: n Integrate due diligence into their policies and risk management systems and to have a due diligence policy that ensures risk-based due diligence; n Identify and assess actual or potential adverse environmental or human rights impacts arising from their own operations or those of their subsidiaries or, where relating to their “chains of activities”, those of their business partners; n Take appropriate measures to prevent (or where not possible, adequately mitigate) potential adverse environmental or human rights impacts; n Take appropriate measures to bring actual adverse environmental or human rights impacts to an end; n Remediate actual adverse environmental human rights impacts that the company has caused; and n Adopt and put into effect a transition plan for climate change mitigation, which aims to ensure, through best efforts, that the business model and strategy of the company are compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and limiting global warming to 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement.

Scope of application The version of CS3D approved by the European Parliament would apply to EU-incorporated companies with more than 1,000 employees and net worldwide turnover of more than €450 million (including when consolidated with any subsidiaries) and non-EU incorporated companies that have generated more than €450 million of net turnover in the EU in two consecutive financial years. The CS3D also includes provisions designed to capture companies that do not meet these thresholds but enter into certain franchising or licencing agreements. The proposed legislation would also include certain carve-outs for the

Garret Farrelly financial services sector: alternative investment managers and certain investment funds are entirely out of scope, while CS3D envisages that companies in the financial services sector would only be required to perform due diligence in respect of their ‘upstream’ chain of activities (ie, excluding their customers).

Companies will likely come into scope for CS3D on a phased basis over three years, starting with the largest companies in 2027. Significantly fewer companies will come into scope for CS3D than under the related Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. However, given that businesses all over the world are likely to fall within the supply chains of larger businesses that are directly in-scope, CS3D will likely have far reaching implications for all EU businesses.

Enforcement, penalties and national transposition Each EU member state will be required to designate a national supervisory authority, which will have enforcement powers.

Member states will be required to introduce penalties for noncompliance; the upper limit for these penalties must be at least 5% of the net world turnover. The CS3D will also introduce a new civil liability regime: those affected by a company’s breach of due diligence obligations will be able to seek damages from the company.

For CS3D to be finally enacted, it will need to be formally endorsed by the Council of the European Union and signed and published in the EU Official Journal. Member states will then have two years to transpose the new rules into national law.

Garret Farrelly is a partner and Head of the Energy and Infrastructure Group at Matheson LLP

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Lennon Solar Powering Commercial Renewable Energy Bernard Lennon heads up a family-run company that, after 43 years in business, is at the forefront of helping organisations in Ireland transition to renewable energy.

Cuppa Garage Drogheda Image Initially, electrical contractors serving the industrial and commercial sectors, Lennon Solar has evolved over the years, now specialising in installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial and domestic customers.

“Our vision is to help as many people and organisations as possible transition to an energy that’s clean and green,” Bernard says of where Lennon Solar is positioned today.

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Solar On The Rise The ascent of solar power in Ireland has been a remarkable journey. According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) statistics, from 0% in 2022, there was a day in May 2023 when solar power contributed 10% to the country’s electricity.

The global data and business intelligence platform Statistica

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has reported that solar electricity generation in Ireland is forecast to reach a little over 100 Kilowatt Hours (KWh) by the end of 2024 and is expected to achieve an annual growth rate of almost 4%.

The Irish Government has recognised solar energy plays a vital role in decarbonising the country’s electricity system, with its updated Climate Action Plan 2023 target of 8 Gigawatts (GW) of solar by 2030.

For organisations and households alike, these challenging but achievable national solar energy targets have translated into grants and tax incentives that make the transition to solar PV attractive and entirely realistic.

Solar energy can no longer be viewed as a fringe technology but as an essential tool alongside wind to achieve Ireland’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Alongside environmental targets and concerns is the growing issue of energy security. The war in Ukraine has propelled the question of how to secure energy to the top of the priority lists for most countries in the EU, and Ireland is no exception. According to the SEAI, Ireland imported 81.6% of its total energy in 2023, a figure well over the EU average of 58%.

This lack of indigenous energy production plays out in the gas and electricity bills of organisations and domestic households. A government spending review published in 2023 reported that “Irish households and businesses saw the cost of their energy bills increase steeply in 2022, with the CRU Estimated Annual Bill (electricity and gas) effectively doubling.”

Therefore, expanding solar PV on commercial and domestic rooftops and large utility installations is critical to Ireland’s future energy security.

Sunshine Isn’t Essential Installing solar PV in a country not famed for its sun can seem counterintuitive until you understand how solar technology has advanced dramatically in recent years. Bernard explains: “The technology in solar panels now is fantastic. The latest N-type panels we install work off ultraviolet rays and generate power even on dull days. In contrast, the older P-type panels are what people traditionally think of as being solar, and those rely predominantly on direct sunshine.”

Bell Labs invented P-type solar panels in the mid-1950s for space applications. The silicon wafers making up each cell were ‘doped’ with boron to encourage power production, make the panel resistant to space radiation, and ward off degradation. As research and money were invested in this technology, it trickled into the commercial and domestic markets and became the standard for terrestrial solar installations.

However, one major drawback of this fantastic technology was that the boron used to coat the solar cells and protect against radiation in space was prone to a defect when the oxygen of a terrestrial atmosphere was introduced to the boron in the solar cells.

This defect produces a high amount of Light-Induced Degradation (LID) in P-type solar panels, reducing their performance by up to 10% in some cases and lowering the unit’s lifespan.

The N-type panels Lennon Solar installs have silicon wafers doped with phosphorous, making them immune to the boron-oxygen defect and Light-Induced Degradation. N-type panels suffer no fast-paced performance degradation and have a longer lifespan. In addition, their conversion efficiency is

much higher, 25.7%, compared to the P-type panel’s 23.6%, and they offer longer product and power degradation manufacturer warranties. Bernard comments, “We never fit P-type solar panels now as there are so many benefits to the N-type.”

Solar PV - Sound Investment The SEAI’s Best Practice Guide: Solar PV in Business estimates that the average payback period for medium to large systems is approximately 8 years. In addition to the price of panels dropping dramatically over the years, the Irish government makes grants available to organisations seeking to install solar PV. The SEAI operates the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant, available to businesses, agriculture, public sector bodies, notfor-profits, schools, and community centres. The grant available starts at €900 for the smallest installations producing only 1 Kilowatt peak up to €162,600 maximum grant value for large installations producing 1000 Kilowatt peak and over.

Bernard points out that financial aid is not the only benefit of the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant, “The grants are very appealing, and everyone wants to get them. However, the other benefit is that you’re ensuring the SEAI quality all the way along because every commercial system that has applied for the grant is inspected. That’s a huge peace of mind” The grant application process begins with contracting a registered SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen (Solar PV) Company such as Lennon Solar. The next step involves applying online for the grant through the SEAI’s website and waiting for a letter of offer, which is valid for 8 months after the date of receipt.

Bernard explains that the process then moves to his company, as the SEAI registered installer, applying to ESB Networks, who operate the electricity network, to connect the solar PV network to the grid. Once an affirmative answer is received, Lennon can install the solar PV for the organisation.

Once the solar PV is installed, documentary evidence is uploaded to the SEAI for review, and the applicant receives the grant payment. The various steps of application review, ESB Networks approval, and installation documentation review can mean a timeline of several months. However, the rigour and structure of the process ensure quality, and Lennon Solar is on hand every step of the way to make the process smooth.

Challenges And Innovations In common with many industries, the challenges of the solar PV sector are primarily related to supply. The war in Ukraine has had a major impact on the solar industry globally. Before the war, Russia accounted for around 10% of global production, and Ukraine accounted for around 3%. In addition to a sharp increase in the cost of raw materials and finished products, the war has severely disrupted the supply chain for many manufacturers.

Bernard comments, “There are definitely supply chain issues. However, as a company, we have done a lot of forward preparation, including forecasting new technology releases and bulk buying to maintain a healthy stock inventory and avoid delays for our customers.”

On the innovations front, there are always incremental improvements to the existing technology in terms of smaller or more efficient panels, as Bernard illustrates:

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Anglo Printers Drogheda “When we started installing the N-type panels in 2019, they were 265W. Now we are up at 440W, so that’s over 50% increase in panel size. I foresee by 2030 that we’ll be looking at panel sizes up to 1KW, which will be amazing in terms of space saving for customers with smaller viable roof space.”

However, storage will likely be the next giant technological leap in solar energy. Lithium-ion batteries are currently used to store excess solar energy, but they are very expensive.

Sodium-ion batteries are currently in development and offer the benefits of being cheaper to produce, safer to use, and capable of operating better in extreme temperatures than lithium-ion batteries. The only downside to sodium-ion batteries identified so far is that they are physically larger and heavier than lithium-ion batteries, which should not be a massive concern in commercial buildings but may deter the domestic market.

Lennon Solar is committed to staying current with the latest technology. Bernard and his team attend solar shows to find the latest and best products for its customers.

The Lennon Solar Approach With many companies in the solar market, it can be hard to differentiate one from another, but Lennon Solar has a competitive edge in several ways. As a family-run business for 43 years, they understand the power and comfort of continuity.

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Lennon Solar is a business that will be there from installation to the end of the solar system’s natural life.

Bernard applies a customer-centric approach to everything the company does, “Our customers are the backbone of our business and the sole reason we are here today,” he says. “Customer service is our number one priority. We are here for the long game and to support our customers 100% in their transition to solar, from technical advice and the pros and cons of different systems to the installation and grant application process and on to after-care.”

This culture of customer care and attention to the customer experience is cultivated in the company’s very core: its employees. Bernard is a firm believer in employee growth and empowerment, opening up opportunities for existing employees to progress or move into new areas. Apprenticeships offer young people the opportunity to learn a trade and enter an industry that is only set to grow. Bernard also knows that customers are better served by a happy workforce and encourages a healthy work-life balance, team building, and open lines of communication across all levels.

The future for Lennon Solar is indeed sunny, and Bernard wraps up by saying, “We are ready to help organisations out there start their transition to solar, and we’re completely confident that we can help make the process smooth. We’ll be on hand every step of the way to make sure our customer is delighted with their solar installation.”

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A bright future Solar power sets a shining example in the race to meet 2030 decarbonisation target ISEA (Irish Solar Energy Association) is the leading voice for the Irish solar industry championing the fight against climate change and working hard to deliver a brighter future for Ireland.

Founded in 2013, ISEA was established to advance a policy and regulatory landscape promoting solar as a leading renewable energy technology that will push the energy transition forward and contribute to a successful and strong clean economy. Today, the vision remains to fully decarbonise Ireland’s electricity system.

Along with its members, ISEA is committed to working with industry, Government, regulators, and system operators to ensure that solar meets the 8GW target set by the Government for 2030.

Key ISEA members include Beauchamps, Western Solar, Bord na Móna and Matheson.

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In March this year, ISEA announced the appointment of Declan Cullinane as its new Chair. Mr. Cullinane, the Country Manager for BayWa r.e. in Ireland, will lead the association, working on ISEA’s main target to cover at least 20% of Ireland’s electricity demand by 2030 with solar power.

Speaking upon his appointment Mr Cullinane said: “With over 1 GW connected and a healthy pipeline, solar has well and truly arrived in Ireland. The sun can now power 400,000 Irish homes but this needs to dramatically increase if we are to reach our climate action goals.”

The highly anticipated ISEA conference will take place at the RDS in Dublin on 1st October, for Solar Ireland 2024, with the theme ‘Road to 2030’. This year’s conference is a critical milestone on the industry’s journey towards delivering on the

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In terms of sustainability, ISEA is committed to creating a resilient and productive industry that contributes to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Government’s targets for the solar industry.

During Solar Ireland 2024: Road to 2030, delegates will explore the pathway to delivering on the Government’s targets, focusing on project delivery, industry growth, sustainable supply chains, and infrastructure development.

In terms of sustainability, ISEA is committed to creating a resilient and productive industry that contributes to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions During the conference will include driving good practice, highlighting the biodiversity benefits of solar, exploring collaboration between agriculture and solar energy, and recognising the pivotal role of women in driving change in the solar sector.

The conference will also delve into how Ireland benefits from the solar revolution within the community. This includes showcasing success stories, discussing community investment, exploring the economic benefits, and emphasising the importance of building a skilled solar workforce.

Discussions on energy transition will focus on the transformation in energy consumption and production.

This involves addressing the needs of business and industry, envisioning future electricity system scenarios,

analysing power market dynamics, and embracing emerging innovations in solar technology.

Although Irish Solar Energy has experienced significant growth since the country’s first solar farm, Millvale solar farm near Ashford, in Co Wicklow, was connected to the national grid just two years ago, moves to reduce grants to domestic users are likely to slow further growth.

ISEA CEO Conall Bolger criticized the Irish government’s decision to reduce the maximum domestic grant amount available under a scheme controlled by Sustainability Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI), a statutory body, to €2,100.

The grant payments have been reduced year-on-year due to the falling cost of solar energy technology.

Commenting in the Irish Examiner Mr Bolger said: “ISEA believes this is counterintuitive and we should be continuing to encourage investment in renewable energy by individuals, businesses, and farmers.”

Despite setbacks, ISEA is confident that through engagement, education, and encouraging best practice, solar is set to continue to be the fastest-growing renewable power source in Ireland.

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Diesel Electric Power 1/2.indd 1

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Solar Revolution Established in January 2023 by Shane Ryan, Western Solar has rapidly become a prominent player in the solar industry.

Strategically headquartered in Lahinch, Clare, and boasting warehouses in Lahinch and Ennistymon, alongside a robust transportation network, the company has positioned itself as a leader in both technological innovation and logistical expertise within the solar revolution.

Recognizing the burgeoning opportunities in Ireland’s solar technology landscape, Shane Ryan enlisted the expertise of Sales Director Stephen McDermott. Stephen, with a wealth of experience garnered from previous roles in the solar sector, brings valuable insights into both emerging and established technologies, as well as expertise in design and advisory services.

Western Solar places a premium on efficient pricing strategies and staying competitive, while simultaneously prioritizing the crucial aspects of delivery and logistics. The company proudly guarantees same-day or next-day delivery nationwide, recognizing the importance of prompt delivery for tradesmen, facilitating early morning installations for optimized time management.

The company’s exceptional delivery capabilities are underscored by a fleet comprising three vehicles, including a small van, a large box truck, and the latest addition, a 40ft Curtainsider equipped with a Moffat forklift. This strategic fleet allows for the convenient drop-off of pallets virtually anywhere in the country, eliminating the necessity for clients to have their own forklift.

At the core of Western Solar’s commitment to cuttingedge technology is its partnership with Growatt, a renowned supplier. Growatt, with a distinguished track record in Solar PV technology, consistently receives accolades for innovation,

ensuring that Western Solar’s customers receive the latest advancements in the market.

Central to any solar setup are the panels, and Western Solar proudly offers two distinguished brands. Jinko Solar panels from China are a popular choice, alongside Recom Technologies from France, offering Tier 1 status, outstanding efficiency, and remarkably low degradation at 0.25%, one of the lowest in the market.

With only 6% of the country currently adopting solar technology, Western Solar recognizes the vast potential in the market. In light of various incentives such as community grants, business grants, and the TAMS Agri grant, there is a compelling case for homeowners, farmers, and businesses to embrace solar as a clean and forward-thinking technology.

As Ireland progresses towards its Carbon Neutral target, Western Solar stands ready to provide expert advice, design services, and guaranteed delivery throughout the country.

The launch of the schools solar program this year further demonstrates the company’s commitment, with Clare being among the selected counties to benefit from the solar grant.

Stephen and Shane have actively immersed themselves in the evolving landscape of solar technology, attending trade shows across Europe to ensure that Western Solar remains at the forefront with the latest technologies and advancements.

Heading into 2024, Western Solar continues to strengthen its position, expanding its product range, services, and advisory offerings. Whether a trade client, farmer, small business owner, or homeowner, clients can trust Western Solar to provide unparalleled advice and access to top-tier brands.

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Creating a brighter future ASEI is an Irish renewable energy company focused on providing high-quality solar PV solutions for residential and commercial customers.

ASEI has quickly become a leader in the solar PV industry in Ireland, with a commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and cost-effective solar solutions to its customers.

The team of experienced engineers and technicians are dedicated to providing the best possible solar PV solutions to meet the needs of all customers. ASEI uses only the highest quality solar PV components, and all installations are performed by trained professionals who are committed to providing exceptional service and attention to detail.

At ASEI, they believe that solar energy is the future of energy production and are committed to helping customers transition to clean, sustainable energy. The firm offers a range of solar PV solutions, including grid-tied, DHW systems, battery storage solutions, and mounting solutions for all roof types.

ASEI’s mission is to make solar energy accessible to everyone, and the team is committed to providing its customers with the best possible service and support. The firm believes that by working together, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

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ASEI has expert knowledge and experience in designing, installing, and maintaining solar PV systems. The team of experts offers advice on the best type of system for your needs and provide information on any government incentives and financing options available to you.

ASEI is proud of to offer excellent customer support. The firm’s transparency, and reliability can help you navigate the process of installing solar panels and make the experience as smooth and hassle-free as possible. The team is always available to answer any questions or concerns you may have after the installation.

ASEI uses high-quality components, such as panels, inverters, and batteries, to ensure that your system is reliable and efficient. The firm provides detailed warranties for our work and components. From leading industry warranties to its Power Production Guarantee, ASEI protects your investment.

A well-designed solar PV system can help you save money on your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and increase the value of your property. ASEI only designs and install systems that meets your energy needs and maximizes your savings.

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Empowering the future with Greenway Solar Greenway Solar is committed to providing innovative tools and products that harness the power of the sun, converting it into sustainable energy solutions for homes.

Greenway Solar is a SEAI, TAMS & Safe Electric registered Solar Panel (PV) installer for domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and educational settings based in Thurles, Tipperary.

Each system is meticulously designed by the team of engineers to meet the specific needs of the client and comply with all SEAI, TAMS & safe electric regulations. Greenway Solar’s team will develop a solution to significantly reduce the clients electricity bills and include options for battery storage and off-grid capabilities.

In addition to Solar PV Systems, Greenway Solar installs Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points for domestic and commercial settings.

The firm’s chargers are tailored to each client’s requirements and feature smart settings to optimize energy savings. The installation is performed by Greenway Solar’s skilled team.

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Greenway Solar & Robotics Limited offers tailor made robot lawnmower installations. The experienced engineers assess the lawn, recommend a suitable model, and handle the entire installation and certification process.

Along with the installation process Greenway Solar’s team provides a comprehensive aftercare service including annual maintenance services.

Furthermore, Greenway Solar & Robotics Limited can offer a variety of solutions for generators and off-grid equipment to ensure a reliable backup power supply during outages.

Start your journey by requesting a free solar panel quote today Contact Details Telephone 0868678877 or 0873919461 Email Info@greenwaysolar.ie www.greenwaysolar.ie

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Empowering Ireland with Solar Energy Klass Solar, part of Klass Home Energy, is at the forefront of Ireland’s renewable energy revolution. Building on the legacy of trust and quality established by the renowned Kirrane family through their brand, Klass Oil, Klass Solar continues this tradition of excellence in renewable energy.

Klass Oil has long been synonymous with reliability and exceptional service in the energy sector, earning the trust of communities across Ireland.

A Commitment to Sustainability Klass Solar is dedicated to sustainability and environmental stewardship. In collaboration with Klass Oil, they drive greener initiatives, including plans to establish solar-powered depots by 2027. These initiatives reflect a commitment to reducing carbon footprints and promoting renewable energy sources across Ireland.

By combining traditional values with cutting-edge technology, Klass Solar and Klass Oil are creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

Tailored Solutions for Every Need Klass Solar excels in offering bespoke packages tailored to meet the unique energy requirements of each customer. From state-ofthe-art solar PV systems to advanced battery storage solutions, Klass Solar ensures efficient energy conversion and storage. By partnering with industry-leading brands such as Huawei, My Energi, Solis, Sig Energy, and others, Klass Solar delivers top-tier technology to its clients. For homeowners, Klass Solar provides solutions that reduce energy bills and increase property values.

Their systems are designed to be seamlessly integrated into new builds and retrofitted into existing homes, making the transition to renewable energy smooth and hassle-free.

Expertise and Quality Installation Klass Solar prides itself on the expertise of its fitters, all of whom are experienced tradesmen. This ensures that all installations are carried out to the highest standards, with meticulous attention to detail.

Customers can rest assured that their solar systems are installed correctly and efficiently.

Klass Solar also offers comprehensive project management and turnkey solutions, handling every aspect of the installation process from initial consultation to final implementation. This holistic approach ensures that every project is completed on time, within budget, and to the client’s exact specifications.

Empowering Businesses and Farms For businesses and farms, Klass Solar offers tailored solutions to

maximise efficiency and savings. With a diverse range of Tier 1 systems, businesses can take advantage of grants and funding opportunities to invest in renewable energy solutions. Klass Solar provides in-depth consultations to understand each business’s unique energy needs and delivers customised systems that optimise energy use and reduce operational costs. The company also offers ongoing maintenance and support, ensuring that systems remain efficient and effective over the long term. This commitment to customer service and quality makes Klass Solar a trusted partner for businesses looking to transition to sustainable energy.

A Comprehensive Energy Solution Klass Home Energy, the parent company of Klass Solar, offers a broad spectrum of energy solutions beyond solar. This includes facility and property management, ensuring that homes and businesses are equipped with the best energy systems available.

Klass Home Energy’s divisions work together to provide a cohesive energy strategy that meets all the needs of their clients, whether it be for residential, commercial, or agricultural applications. Their turnkey solutions and project management services ensure that all aspects of energy projects are handled professionally and efficiently.

From design and planning to installation and maintenance, Klass Home Energy provides a seamless experience for their customers.

Join the Movement Towards a Cleaner Future Join the movement towards a cleaner, more sustainable future with Klass Solar. Experience the benefits of renewable energy and unlock your potential for a brighter tomorrow. Visit www.klasssolar.ie to learn more and start your journey towards energy independence today. Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, or farmer, Klass Solar has the expertise and solutions to meet your energy needs and help you contribute to a greener planet.

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The Renewable Energy Transition The growth of renewable energy: Progress, challenges and potential

Renewable energy has grown from 19% of global electricity in 2000 to over 30% last year.

The past decade has seen remarkable advancements in renewable energy, positioning it as a cornerstone in the global fight against climate change. As of last year, renewable energy sources accounted for over 30% of the world’s electricity for the first time, driven by significant increases in wind and solar power.

The global shift towards renewable energy has been both rapid and impactful. According to a report by climate thinktank Ember, renewable energy has grown from 19% of global electricity in 2000 to over 30% last year. This growth has contributed significantly to slowing the increase in fossil fuel usage, reducing it by nearly two-thirds over the past decade.

Notably, seven countries now generate nearly all their electricity from renewable sources, including Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, each producing more than 99.7% of their electricity from geothermal, hydro, solar, or wind power.

In addition, 40 other countries generated at least 50% of their electricity from renewable technologies in 2021 and 2022.

The United Kingdom, for instance, saw a rise in renewable

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energy generation to 41.5% of its electricity in 2022, a significant increase from the previous year.

“We don’t need miracle technologies,” said Stanford University Professor Mark Jacobson, who published the data.

“We need to stop emissions by electrifying everything and providing the electricity with Wind, Water and Solar (WWS), which includes onshore wind, solar photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, geothermal electricity, small hydroelectricity, and large hydroelectricity.”

Renewable energy holds immense potential to curb climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The International Energy Association (IEA) has projected that global emissions from energy use may have peaked in 2023, marking a critical milestone in the effort to achieve net-zero emissions. This peak, although delayed, signifies a pivotal point from which emissions could start to decline.

“It’s not a question of ‘if’, it’s just a matter of ‘how soon’ – and the sooner the better for all of us,” said Fatih Birol, the head of the IEA.

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In 2024, global investment in low-carbon electricity is expected to be double that of fossil fuels, driven largely by solar projects. The IEA predicts that clean energy investment, including renewables, nuclear power, electric vehicles, and energy storage, will reach $2 trillion this year.

The IEA emphasizes that existing globally, could signal the beginning of the technologies, particularly wind, water, end for fossil fuel dominance. and solar (WWS), can fully electrify and According to the IEA’s flagship report, decarbonize the energy sector. These the continued rise of wind and solar power technologies include onshore wind, solar is likely to outstrip global energy demand photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, growth, leading to a reduction in fossil fuel geothermal electricity, small hydroelectricity, usage. The rollout of electric vehicles is also and large hydroelectricity. expected to decrease demand for road fuels, The increasing economic viability which constitute about 50% of oil demand in of solar energy, driven by significant developed countries. investments and decreasing costs, In tandem with global trends, suggests that solar power may dominate Ireland’s renewable energy sector has also global electricity markets without the experienced significant growth over the need for additional climate policies. past two decades. The country’s renewable Among renewable energy sources, electricity supply has risen from a mere solar and wind power have shown the 5% in 2005 to 39% in 2024. Ireland is highest potential for growth and impact. particularly well-positioned to harness Solar power, in particular, has been the wind energy due to its location on the “It’s not a question of ‘if’, it’s just a matter fastest-growing source of electricity for edge of the Atlantic Ocean. This natural of ‘how soon’ – and the sooner the better the 19th consecutive year, becoming the advantage, coupled with a supportive for all of us,” said Fatih Birol, the head of the largest source of new electricity generation environment for startups and foreign International Energy Association (IEA). which in 2023. This growth is expected to investments, has allowed Ireland to exploit has projected that global emissions from continue, with solar energy playing a energy use may have peaked in 2023, marking its wind energy potential to the fullest. crucial role in the global energy transition. a critical milestone in the effort to achieve Ireland is currently the highest-ranked net-zero emissions.

Wind power has also seen substantial country globally in the share of electricity growth, with global wind power output demand met by onshore wind and is second increasing by 10% last year. Together, wind and solar power are in Europe for per capita wind and solar energy production. set to outpace the world’s growing energy demand, effectively The Irish government’s ambitious targets, as outlined in displacing fossil fuels on a global scale. the Climate Action Plan 2023, aim to generate up to 80% of the Despite the positive trends, significant challenges remain country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. This plan in the transition to a fully renewable energy system. The IEA includes 9GW from onshore wind, at least 5GW from offshore and IRENA data indicate that while investment in clean energy wind, and 8GW from solar power by the end of the decade. These is increasing, spending on fossil fuels remains substantial. In targets are part of a broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions 2024, global investment in low-carbon electricity is expected to by 51% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. be double that of fossil fuels, driven largely by solar projects.

With Ireland is already the global leader in onshore wind The IEA predicts that clean energy investment, including generation, the government is now focusing on expanding renewables, nuclear power, electric vehicles, and energy storage, offshore wind capacity. With a maritime area more than ten will reach $2 trillion this year. times the size of its landmass, Ireland has significant potential However, oil and gas investments continue to rise, with to develop a robust offshore wind sector. This expansion is global oil and gas investments projected to increase by 7% in expected to drive the removal of fossil fuels from the electricity 2024, reaching $570 billion. This spending is predominantly system, enable industrial decarbonization, and foster new driven by state-owned oil companies in the Middle East and industries and services.

Asia. To meet climate goals, it is crucial that investments shift Ireland’s progress in renewable energy is notable. The more decisively towards clean energy technologies. increase from 5% to 39% renewable electricity supply since There is cautious optimism that peak emissions have been 2005 is a testament to the country’s commitment to sustainable reached, with various studies supporting this outlook. For energy. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development instance, China’s emissions, which are the highest globally, may Act, signed into law in July 2021, legally binds the government have peaked and begin a structural decline this year, thanks to an to meet its ambitious targets. The collaboration between state accelerated rollout of wind and solar power. This trend, if mirrored agencies and private enterprises, such as the partnership

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However, oil and gas investments continue to rise, with global oil and gas investments projected to increase by 7% in 2024, reaching $570 billion. This spending is predominantly driven by state-owned oil companies in the Middle East and Asia. To meet climate goals, it is crucial that investments shift more decisively towards clean energy technologies.

Notably, seven countries now generate nearly all their electricity from renewable sources, including Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, each producing more than 99.7% of their electricity from geothermal, hydro, solar, or wind power.

between ESB and Ørsted to develop offshore wind projects, demonstrates the proactive approach being taken towards achieving these goals.

Research and development have also played a crucial role.

Institutions like the SFI Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) and the Environmental Research Institute at University College Cork are at the forefront of developing super-efficient solar cells and energy storage technologies. These advancements are backed by Science Foundation Ireland, which supports innovation in renewable energy.

Despite the significant progress, Ireland faces several challenges in its renewable energy journey. One of the most pressing issues is the country’s planning system, which is seen as a major hurdle. The lengthy decision-making process, often extending up to 90 weeks, creates uncertainty and delays in renewable energy projects. The planning system is currently operating at capacity and requires greater resourcing to expedite the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure.

Another challenge is the increasing electricity demand, which is outpacing the construction of renewable generation infrastructure. This discrepancy makes it difficult to meet the target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030. Additionally, substantial investment is needed in capital infrastructure, such

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as ports and roadways, to support the development of offshore wind projects and other renewable energy facilities.

The future of Ireland’s renewable energy sector looks promising, with continued government support and increasing private sector investments. The National Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind, published in March 2024, outlines how stakeholders will collaborate to develop the sector. Projects like the Celtic Interconnector, which will link Ireland’s electricity grid with France, are crucial for enhancing energy security and facilitating green energy exports.

The involvement of world-leading renewables developers, such as Ørsted, Statkraft, and Aker Horizons, further boosts Ireland’s prospects. These companies are investing heavily in wind and solar projects, as well as in innovative technologies like superconducting cables for ultra-efficient electricity transmission.

With continued commitment and collaboration, Ireland can maximize the environmental, economic, and social benefits of renewable energy development.

The growth of renewable energy globally marks a significant step towards mitigating climate change, with wind and solar power leading the charge. While substantial progress has been made, the global community must continue to accelerate investments in clean energy to meet climate targets and transition away from fossil fuels.

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WRB Group WRB Group is an Irish Solar Expert, exclusively installing UKSol solar panels, offering high-quality solar panels with a 30-year warranty Solar panels have become increasingly popular in Ireland, both for commercial and domestic purposes. The transition towards renewable energy sources has been driven by the need for sustainability, cost savings, and the availability of advanced technologies that make solar power a viable and attractive option.

Cost Savings One of the primary advantages of installing solar panels is the significant cost savings on electricity bills. For both homeowners and businesses, the reduction in energy expenses can be substantial. Ireland, with its moderate climate and ample daylight hours, provides a suitable environment for solar energy generation. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used to power homes or businesses, reducing reliance on the national grid and lowering electricity bills.

For commercial entities, the savings can be even more pronounced. Businesses typically consume more energy than households, and the larger the installation, the greater the potential savings. Over time, the reduction in electricity costs can translate into thousands of euros saved annually, which can be reinvested into the business or contribute to its growth.

Fast Installation The installation of solar panels is a relatively quick process, especially when managed by experienced professionals like WRB. Typically, a residential solar panel system can be installed within one to two days, depending on the size and complexity of the system. Commercial installations might take a bit longer, but modern advancements and streamlined processes ensure that even larger systems can be set up efficiently.

Rapid Payback Periods Investing in solar panels also offers the advantage of rapid payback periods. With the decreasing cost of solar technology and various government incentives, the initial investment can be recouped relatively quickly. In Ireland, the payback period for solar panel installations typically ranges between five to seven years, depending on the size of the installation and the amount of energy generated.

Monitoring via Mobile App The integration of technology into solar panel systems has made monitoring and managing energy production more accessible than ever. WRB provides advanced monitoring systems that can be accessed via a mobile app. This feature allows users to track the performance of their solar panels in real-time, providing insights into energy production, consumption, and savings.

For homeowners, the app offers a convenient way to ensure their system is operating efficiently and to make adjustments as needed. For businesses, the app can provide detailed reports and analytics, helping to optimise energy usage and further reduce costs. The ability to monitor the system remotely also means that any issues can be identified and addressed promptly, ensuring maximum efficiency and reliability.

Long-Term Reliability The 30-year warranty provided by UKSol underscores the reliability and durability of their solar panels. This extended warranty period offers peace of mind to both homeowners and businesses, knowing that their investment is protected for decades. The longevity of solar panels means that they will continue to generate savings long after the initial payback period, making them a highly cost-effective energy solution.

Environmental Benefits In addition to financial savings, solar panels contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. Ireland has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, and the adoption of solar energy is a crucial component of this strategy. By generating clean, renewable energy, solar panels help to lower the carbon footprint of both residential and commercial properties.

Solar panels present a compelling case for both domestic and commercial applications in Ireland. The financial benefits, coupled with fast installation, rapid payback periods, and advanced monitoring capabilities, make solar energy an attractive option. With companies like WRB offering high-quality panels backed by a 30-year warranty, the long-term reliability and environmental benefits further enhance the appeal of this renewable energy source. As Ireland continues to embrace sustainable practices, solar panels will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping a greener, more cost-efficient future.

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Harnessing the power of the Sun Truway Renewables is one of Ireland’s leading Solar PV Installers. Based in Leinster and providing nationwide coverage.

Truway renewables specialises in the design, supply, installation, and maintenance of Solar PV Systems. Working with some of the best brands on the market, including Solar Edge, Sungrow & Huawei, Truway Renewables consults with customers to deliver a tailormade Solar PV system for their home or business, leading to reductions in electricity bills of up to 60%.

SEAI grants of up to €2100 are available for domestic customers, with advisors available to discuss business grants of up to €162,000, along with TAMS grants of up to 60%.

Truway Renewables is constantly innovating, looking for new ways to improve its services and make solar energy even more accessible. The firm is not just in the business of selling solar panels; it is in the business of creating a sustainable future for Ireland.

Truway Renewables also works with the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) which offers grants of up to 60% to farmers.

The firm’s vision is clear: a country where every home and business can harness the power of the sun. Truway Renewables is not just thinking about the next year or the next five years but is thinking about the next generation

The installation process itself is seamless. Truway Renewables uses only the highest quality materials, so you can rest easy knowing that your new solar system is built to last.

And the team handles all the paperwork, making the entire process as hassle-free as possible.

Truway Renewable’s reach extends to every part of Ireland, ensuring that no matter where you are, you can benefit from solar power. The firm has installed systems on all types of buildings and offers versatility and expertise meaning that no project is too big or too small.

One of the hallmarks of Truway Renewables is its commitment to customer satisfaction. Clients comment about the professionalism, efficiency, and friendliness of the team.

From the initial consultation to the final installation, Truway Renewables goes above and beyond to ensure that every customer is happy.

So, if you’re thinking about making the switch to solar, look no further than Truway Renewables. With over 10 years of experience, the expertise and the passion offered by the team will help you make the transition smoothly and effortlessly.

Give Truway Renewables a call today, and take the first step towards a brighter, more sustainable future.

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Specialists in Domestic, Commercial and Agriculture installations including Solar PV www.alternativeenergy.ie

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Renewable Energy Specialists Alternative Energy brings 12 years of experience in the domestic, commercial and agricultural sectors.

Alternative Energy originated as J & R Electrical Contractors in 2004 (J & R Electrical (NI) Ltd). In 2011, the firm diversified into renewable energy, primarily Solar PV, specialising in Domestic, Commercial and Agricultural installations. Based in Omagh, Co Tyrone, the team consists of two Directors, Office Manager, Sales Consultants and Roof and Electrical Engineers.

With over 12 years of experience in the industry and one of the first companies to start installing Solar PV in Ireland, Alternative Energy has a large customer foundation ranging from family homes to commercial and agricultural premises.

Using reputable and well-known branded products, the firm has installed over 1700 systems, which includes Solar PV, battery storage and EV charge points. Thes highly trained and competent team, ensures quality workmanship, great customer service and excellent aftercare support, all perquisites for a successful business. Alternative Energy is a ‘Safe Electric’ Registered Electrical Contractor and holds many accreditations, including ISO 9001 (Quality), 45001 (Health & Safety) and 14001 (Environmental).

With many renewable energy grants currently available, many people have decided to install Solar PV and battery storage systems in their homes and businesses. In a consultation, The Alternative energy team will discuss in detail the requirements of the customer so they can offer the best available options, which will satisfy both needs and budget.

With SEAI registration and on its approved list of Contractors and Installers for both Domestic and Non-Domestic Micro-generator (NDMG) installations, Alternative Energy can

offer an installation package which includes everything from survey and design to installation and commissioning. The office team will also complete the necessary ESB and grant paperwork and submit it on the customers’ behalf. In Northern Ireland, the firm liaises with NIE, completing the required application for Solar PV installations and can also assist the customer with building control if necessary.

As with any business, meeting customer demand is important and continual company development is crucial. One of the plans for this forthcoming year is to offer Air Source Heat Pump Installations. A heat pump transfers existing heat energy from the air into your home in order to heat radiators and hot water. Even in below-freezing temperatures, a heat pump is extremely efficient and can deliver more heat energy than the electrical energy they use. The system is very low maintenance and has an approximate life span of 25 years. It is also fully functional all year round.

Alternative Energy is proud of its wonderful team and has a database of loyal customers who have in turn recommended the firm to family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues. The team is looking forward to another busy year ahead, assisting customers to invest in their homes and businesses as well as reducing their impact on the environment.

A portfolio of some of Alternative Energy’s completed projects and full contact information can be found at alternativeenergy.ie where you can also request a quotation.

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Resolute Engineering Group Leading the charge in renewable energy solutions In the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable technology, few companies have made as significant an impact as Resolute Engineering Group. Founded by four visionary engineers in 2020, this dynamic company has swiftly risen to the forefront of Ireland’s green energy revolution. With a dedicated team of fifty employees, Resolute Engineering Group is not just participating in the industry—they are leading it.

A Visionary Enterprise From its inception, Resolute Engineering Group has been driven by a commitment to excellence and innovation in sustainable solutions. The company’s rapid growth is a testament to its founders’ foresight and the team’s collective expertise.

Specializing in solar panel installations for both commercial and domestic markets, as well as advanced water treatment systems like attenuation tanks, Resolute Engineering Group offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to meet the highest standards of sustainability. Resolute have worked with many highprofile companies in the construction industry such as Walls, John Sisk & Sons, King & Moffatt, Kingspan and Elliott Group.

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Certified Excellence in Solar PV As the leading SEAI certified solar PV company in Ireland, Resolute Engineering Group has set a benchmark for quality and reliability. Their certification from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) underscores their dedication to adhering to the most rigorous industry standards. This commitment to excellence has earned them the prestigious Public Sector Magazine Excellence in Business Award, highlighting their significant contributions to the field of renewable energy.

Navigating Challenges Entering the competitive domestic solar market presented a formidable challenge. However, Resolute Engineering Group tackled it head-on by establishing a specialized division called Going Solar. This strategic move enabled them to cater specifically to homeowners looking to invest in solar energy.

Through targeted marketing and customer education, Going Solar has successfully demystified solar technology for the

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As the leading SEAI certified solar PV company in Ireland, Resolute Engineering Group has set a benchmark for quality and reliability.

average homeowner, making sustainable energy solutions more accessible than ever before.

Expansion and Innovation Building on their success in the solar sector, Resolute Engineering Group recently launched a new division: Resolute Civils Ireland and UK. This division focuses on providing technical sales and support for a range of Sustainable Urban Designs Systems (SuDS) and components.

By offering comprehensive solutions for urban sustainability, Resolute Civils is poised to transform the way cities manage resources and infrastructure, contributing to greener, more resilient urban environments.

Resolute Energy In addition to their extensive work in solar installations and water treatment, Resolute Engineering Group has a dedicated division called Resolute Energy. This division specializes in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and energy trading, providing clients with innovative solutions for managing their energy consumption and costs. Through PPAs, businesses can secure long-term, stable energy prices, while energy trading services help them optimize their energy usage and reduce expenses.

Case Study Dominos Pizza Distribution Centre, Naas Co. Kildare One of Resolute Engineering Group’s most notable projects is the installation of a 131.75 kW solar PV system for the Dominos Pizza Distribution Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare. This project exemplifies their expertise and commitment to delivering highperformance, sustainable energy solutions.

The system comprises 310 Topco tier 1 solar panels, a 100 kW Solis inverter, the Schletter Single Fix mounting system,

and a TSUN Shunt fire safety device. The Solis inverter alone generates an impressive 131,400 kWh of clean energy each year, significantly reducing the facility’s carbon footprint.

The impact of this installation has been profound. Dominos Pizza Distribution Centre has seen an 80% reduction in its electricity bills, with a payback period of just four years. In the first year alone, they have already saved €50,000. This substantial financial saving, coupled with the environmental benefits, underscores the value of investing in sustainable energy solutions.

Engineered for Excellence At the heart of Resolute Engineering Group’s success is their unwavering commitment to engineering excellence. Every project they undertake is meticulously planned and executed, ensuring the highest standards of performance and reliability.

Their team of experts continuously seeks out the latest technologies and best practices, ensuring that their clients receive the most effective and efficient solutions available.

This dedication to excellence is not just a company ethos—it is the foundation upon which Resolute Engineering Group has built its reputation. Whether they are installing solar panels on a residential

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home, developing large-scale commercial energy solutions, or designing advanced water treatment systems, their focus remains on delivering sustainable solutions that stand the test of time.

Sustainable Future As the demand for sustainable solutions continues to grow, Resolute Engineering Group is well-positioned to lead the industry into the future. Their innovative approach, combined with a deep commitment to sustainability, ensures that they will remain at the forefront of the green energy revolution.

Exciting times ahead for Resolute Engineering Group as they continue to work on many projects such as the installation

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of solar pv system at the development of St. Conleths Park, the home of Kildare GAA. With divisions like Going Solar, Resolute Civils Ireland and UK, and Resolute Energy, the company is equipped to tackle a wide range of challenges and opportunities. Their ability to adapt and innovate in response to market needs positions them as a trusted partner for businesses and homeowners alike.

Resolute Engineering Group’s journey from a small startup to a leading player in the sustainable technology sector is a testament to their vision, expertise, and dedication. As they continue to expand their reach and impact, one thing remains clear: they are not just engineering solutions—they are engineering a sustainable future for all.

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Accelerating Electric Vehicle Sales A recent slump in demand for electric vehicle (EV sales) is threatening our ability to meet the target of electrifying one-third of cars by 2030 Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Ireland have experienced significant fluctuations in recent years, reflecting broader market dynamics and changing consumer behaviours. After a record-breaking year in 2023, where EV sales soared with a 45% increase in Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) registrations compared to 2022, the first quarter of 2024 has seen a concerning reduction in sales.

This decline, marking the first of its kind, has prompted industry experts to examine the underlying causes and potential implications for the EV market moving forward.

The surge in EV sales in 2023 is attributable to several factors. The global pandemic had previously disrupted supply chains, leading to pent-up demand that was finally met in 2023.

Consequently, BEV registrations saw substantial growth, particularly in the months of March, May, and June of last year. By the end of the year, BEVs constituted 18% of the total market share.

However, this momentum did not carry over into 2024, with the first three months showing a slowdown not just in EV sales, but across the entire vehicle market. This overall market deceleration highlights a broader economic trend rather than an isolated issue within the EV sector.

Several key factors continue to drive interest in EVs. Firstly, EVs offer significant cost advantages, with lower running costs compared to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, especially when charged at home during off-peak hours. Additionally, the environmental benefits, such as zero tailpipe emissions, appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. The expanding variety of EV models, now exceeding 70 different types, also caters to a broader range of consumer preferences. Moreover, the continuous improvement in public charging infrastructure and advancements in battery technology have significantly reduced range anxiety, making EVs a more viable option for many drivers.

In the market, brands such as those within the VW Group (VW, Skoda, Cupra, Audi, and Porsche) have shown mixed performance.

While the group reported a global drop in BEV deliveries by 3.3% due to market-related factors and supply shortages, they also noted a doubling in future BEV demand, indicating strong latent interest.

However, in Ireland, the VW Group experienced a more severe 37% reduction in BEV deliveries for the first four months of 2024, suggesting that local market conditions may be more challenging compared to other regions. This disparity underscores the need for

targeted strategies to address unique local market barriers.

Despite the clear benefits, several disincentives continue to hinder the widespread adoption of EVs. The reduction in the EV grant from €5,000 to €3,500 in mid-2023 has made EVs less financially attractive, particularly as consumers rushed to take advantage of the higher grant before it expired. Additionally, price fluctuations in the EV market, including recent cuts in new EV prices, have led to significant depreciation concerns for current EV owners, potentially deterring new buyers. Concerns about battery lifespan and the cost of future replacements, though largely debunked, persist in public perception and contribute to hesitancy among potential buyers.

The Climate Change Advisory Council recently emphasised the urgent need for measures to boost EV sales in Ireland. Published recently, the Council’s Annual Review highlights the transport sector’s failure to meet emissions targets, exacerbated by rising demand for petrol and diesel and declining EV sales. To counteract this trend, the Council calls for a comprehensive review of all transport-related taxation, including vehicle registration tax, motor tax, and excise duties. This review aims to disincentivize the use of ICE vehicles and promote the adoption of EVs through fiscal reforms that make sustainable transport choices more attractive.

Moreover, the Council advocates for reforms in company car taxation to be implemented as early as the upcoming budget in October. This measure is part of a broader strategy to incentivize households and businesses to switch to electric vehicles. The Council stresses the importance of supporting sustainable transport choices through efficient and affordable public transport. The need for transformative change is clear, as even with full policy implementation, the transport sector is projected to exceed its emissions ceiling without increased EV uptake.

Lastly, the Council recommends prioritizing investments in resilient transport infrastructure to withstand future climate impacts, such as intense rainfall and sea-level rise. Enhancing community engagement to understand barriers to sustainable transport adoption and providing improved public transport services are also crucial. By implementing these measures, the Council aims to ensure that Ireland’s transport sector can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve its emissions reduction targets, ultimately fostering a more sustainable and resilient transport system.

Price fluctuations in the EV market, including recent cuts in new EV prices, have led to significant depreciation concerns for current EV owners, potentially deterring new buyers.

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Opening Doors for New Home Building in Ireland Established in 2019 to fund viable residential development projects nationwide.

Finance available for new projects from 5 units upwards.

Products designed for all types of residential development.

Social/Affordable Housing Product • Available for social housing presold to a Local Authority, an Approved Housing body or the LDA. • Also Available for projects being developed under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme.

Castle View, Mucklagh, Co Offaly A mix of 8 bungalows and semi-detached homes acquired by Offaly Co Co.

• Gearing of up to 85% (includes site purchase and development funding) • Margin of between 5% and 7% (over 3-month Euribor), with an entry fee of 1% and no exit fee.

• The site should have planning permission or be in the process of achieving planning permission.

For further information or to discuss a project, please contact one of our regional Business Development Managers.

NORTH & WEST

EAST

SOUTH

David Fox 086 796 2899 david.fox@hbfi.ie

David O’Doherty 086 836 3280 david.odoherty@hbfi.ie

Damien Quigley 087 905 8412 damien.quigley@hbfi.ie

General Enquiries info@hbfi.ie | 01 238 4600 | www.hbfi.ie

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