628. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the performance and evaluation framework for the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction at Mount Lucas; the date on which this framework will be approved; the baseline data and target indicators that will be used to measure outcomes; the reporting structures that will be applied; whether any phase of construction commenced prior to the finalisation of these metrics; and the reason construction proceeded in advance of an agreed evaluation framework. [71045/25]

In order to help the adoption of innovative solutions in housing delivery, the Government’s Housing for All and the Roadmap for Increased Adoption of MMC in Public Housing Delivery detailed a National Demonstration Park for MMC as a deliverable.

Located at the National Construction Training Campus in Mount Lucas, the Park will serve as a national hub to showcase MMC housing and systems. The Park will be central to advancing the take-up of MMC in Ireland as a physical showcase for these technologies and processes. The project is being led by the Laois–Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), which manages the National Construction Training Campus, and which also delivers relevant MMC course provision.

Underlining the unique nature of the project, joint ministerial approval for completion of Phase 1 was granted by Minister Lawless, Minister Burke and Minister Browne in March 2025 and I was delighted to attend the official breaking of the ground ceremony in June 2025.

The Project Advisory Group is co-chaired by SOLAS and LOETB and comprised of my Department; Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; SOLAS, and LOETB. This group fulfils the role of ‘Steering Group’ as per the Capital Works Management Framework project hierarchy requirements. The Approving / Sanctioning Authority (DFHERIS) has devolved the role of overseeing the project to the Project Advisory Group, as per section 3.2 of the CWMF Guidance Note 1.1.

Under this arrangement, LOETB (as the contracting authority) brings proposed actions to the Advisory Group for review by the three Departments (as the funders) and SOLAS (as the funding authority). The Group recommends actions to DFHERIS or requests more information in order to make a recommendation. LOETB then progresses the project in line with existing established capital project management process between the capital units of SOLAS and DFHERIS.

Construction of the Demonstration Park is progressing, with the enabling groundworks for Phase 1 on track for completion by year end. These initial construction activities have been carried out onsite to prepare for the MMC units and are essential to ensure that the site is safe, stable, and ready for further development. The first of the demonstration units to be built as part of the Phase One of the Park are projected to be onsite in Q1 2026, with activity scaling throughout 2026.

The requirements of capital timelines are such that investment sometimes commences for projects while the detail of performance frameworks are being agreed, updated, or refined. In relation to the National Demonstration Park for MMC, a decision was made by the Project Advisory Group to commence capital works in parallel with development of evaluation metrics to ensure delivery of the physical infrastructure in alignment with the expected timing of agreement on the operational framework. In the first instance, these metrics are related to the enabling groundworks and confirming the housing units to be delivered.

The development of the Park is aligned with the Government’s broader MMC ambitions, which, through my Department, includes the rollout of the Skillnet MMC Accelerate online platform in February 2025 and the launch of an MMC Action Plan in June 2025 to address the skills needs identified by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN).

At the same time, my Department is working with partners to develop a wider plan for development of the Campus as a whole, including, now, the Demonstration Park. This will ensure sound investment in these facilities, fully aligned with achieving Government targets.