657. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the performance and evaluation framework for the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction; the date on which the framework is expected to be formally approved; whether draft metrics have been agreed by the Project Advisory Group; and whether the framework will be published. [16021/26]

I would like to thank Deputy O'Flynn for his continued interest in the ongoing development of the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).

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, 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 Campus, and delivers relevant MMC training.

Underlining the unique nature of the project, joint ministerial approval for completion of Phase 1a) 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 requirements of capital timelines are such that investment sometimes commences for projects while the details of performance and evaluation 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 relate to the enabling groundworks and confirming the housing units to be delivered.

The metrics are agreed through Memoranda of Understanding between the different entities involved in developing the Park.

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).