Ireland is currently in the midst of a significant housing crisis. Addressing this is no small feat, but the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has highlighted one solution: embracing Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). David Murray, Head of Technical Affairs & Ireland Sales at MEDITE SMARTPLY, explores the potential of MMC, particularly offsite construction, in easing Ireland’s housing challenges.
In July 2024, a report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) laid bare the scale of the housing challenge in the Republic of Ireland. The report indicated a projected need for 44,000 new homes annually from 2023 to 2030 and a further 40,000 per year from 2030 to 2040. The industry is falling short of meeting these figures, with the Central Statistics Office recording that 32,695 dwellings were completed in 2023 — a 10% increase from the previous year, but one that is still approximately 25%t fewer than the 44,000 figure.
The NESC published its report, Boosting Ireland’s Housing Supply: Modern Methods of Construction, in September 2024. The report points to MMC as a potential means of addressing the pressing shortfall and highlights offsite construction as a key area of opportunity.
The distinct advantage of offsite construction lies in its ability to streamline the building process and reduce costs while enhancing quality and sustainability. In its 2023 report, A Detailed Description of Needs for the Irish Construction/Built Environment Sector, EY for Enterprise Ireland found that an MMC approach to building has the potential to reduce construction costs by 25% compared to traditional methods.
A Growing Solution
The NESC’s September report also extensively addresses the use of timber in offsite construction, highlighting its potential to significantly enhance the productivity, sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the construction sector. It points to timber-based solutions as a key opportunity for development, particularly given Ireland’s substantial timber resources due to the maturation of forestry planting over the past 30 years. This is coupled with Ireland’s long-term vision for forestry, which anticipates by 2050 that Ireland’s forests will be seen as a key solution to the climate, biodiversity, housing and health emergencies of the 2020s.
Of course, timber is already a well-established mainstay of the construction industry. Timber frame construction accounts for a significant portion of new housing schemes in Ireland, with over 50% of new scheme housing utilising timber frames. In addition, new innovative wood-based products can help further improve the quality and sustainability of timber frame buildings.
SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT
SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT is one such OSB product used as internal structural sheathing in timber frame construction systems, and it is ideally suited for offsite construction projects.
The SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT panel eliminates the need for separate airtightness and vapour control layer (AVCL) membranes, combining structural strength (OSB/3) with built-in airtightness and an integrated vapour control layer. Its speciality surfacing technology ensures consistent vapour resistance over the entire surface, while the rigid panel design reduces susceptibility to damage compared to flexible membranes.
Crucially, SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT is easy to cut and fix, speeding up installation time and making it a convenient choice in offsite manufacturing. It is manufactured from FSC certified timber with no added formaldehyde.
Offsite construction presents a transformative opportunity for Ireland to meet its housing needs efficiently and sustainably. By leveraging the approach and the innovative solutions that make it possible, Ireland can significantly boost its housing supply and reduce carbon emissions. The NESC report provides a comprehensive roadmap for achieving these goals; it’s now a matter of building it.
For more information on SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT, visit https://mdfosb.com/en/ products/smartply-airtight
Source: MEDITE SMARTPLY – A modern approach to tackling Ireland’s housing crisis
