1656. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on his Departments engagement with the European Construction Strategy particularly with regard to modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55951/26]

As part of the European Affordable Housing Plan package, the European Commission published the European Strategy for Housing Construction (ESHC) in December 2025, proposing a set of actions to increase the competitiveness and productivity of the construction ecosystem. My Department has been actively engaging with the Commission and its Housing Taskforce as the implementation of the European Strategy for Housing Construction progresses.

We are keen to work with other Member States to share best practice around the construction industry, including through modern methods of construction and offsite construction. This is also an important priority of Ireland’s national housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, and significant strides are being made in Ireland in this regard.

My Department are members of the High-Level Construction Forum (HLCF) which will provide the main platform for further communication about the actions set out in the Strategy.

My Department are also convenors of one of three workstreams of the HLCF Task Force on Offsite Construction. Offsite construction is the EU terminology used for Modern Methods of Construction. The HLCF Task Force workstream which my Department convenes is focussed on barriers and regulations to offsite construction.

With regard to Action 1 of the ESHC, on simplifying and streamlining permitting procedures, several initiatives are currently under way at national level to deliver greater consistency to the overall planning system, including the planning application process. These include development of a National Planning Excellence Framework; the ePlanning portal which provides a standardised online system for planning applications and submissions across local authorities; and the ongoing development of a National Digital Planning System. Legislatively, Part 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024), to be commenced this Autumn, consolidates and streamlines the processes used to obtain planning permissions.

Furthermore, Ireland has engaged extensively with the EU Commission in relation to various sectoral Directives and Regulations and the Omnibus simplification packages being progressed at EU level that interact with Ireland’s planning and permitting system. My Department has also been actively engaging with the Housing Taskforce in preparing a Housing Simplification Package for 2027 to cut red tape, accelerate permitting, and reduce building costs across Member States.

A key component of the ESHC, the Construction Services Act, is expected to foster the free movement of construction and installation services in the Single Market. Ireland will engage with the Commission on this legislative proposal when it is published.

As EU Presidency, we will progress the implementation of the European Strategy for Housing Construction and provide support to advancing productivity, capacity building and innovation, and simplifying and streamlining permitting procedures in the interests of speeding up the delivery of housing and infrastructure.