New Steering Group on timber will examine increasing the use of timber in construction
- Published on: 7 November 2023
- Last updated on: 2 January 2024
Increasing the use of timber in construction is central to the work of a new Steering Group appointed by the Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett.
Speaking after the first meeting of the group on Monday, Minister Hackett said:
“We want to see more timber used in construction. Not only is wood a sustainable, home-grown product, but it can also replace steel and concrete, reducing the carbon footprint of our buildings. Timber used in construction is an excellent way of storing and locking up carbon, and has a positive impact on our climate. We know our forests bring great benefits for our climate, water quality, nature and biodiversity - growing timber as a product for construction is also central to our climate efforts and to the future of the forest sector.”
The new Interdepartmental & Industry Steering Group on Timber in Construction brings together industry and government departments to assess the needs of the sector and to increase the use of timber in construction. The group is tasked with examining potential obstacles to increasing the use of timber, including regulatory and standardisation challenges, and to maximising the use of home-grown timber.
The new €1.3 billion Forestry Programme, launched in September, offers attractive grants and yearly premiums for landowners to plant new forests for timber. Applicants can receive grants of €4,452 per hectare, and annual payments of up to €863 per year for 20 years to plant a new diverse conifer forest for timber production with 20% broadleaf species through the new Afforestation Scheme. There is more information on the schemes available at gov.ie/forestry.
The government is committed to increase the number of timber growers in the State, and offers grants to fully establish new forests and support the management of the existing forest estate. The government’s new Forest Strategy places a strong emphasis on the use of timber and its important role in reducing the amounts of concrete and steel in construction.
The Chair of the group, Professor J Owen Lewis said:
“I am delighted to see the enthusiasm and commitment of the Steering Group at today’s meetings. There is a real urgency to increase the use of timber in construction, and I have no doubt that if we work together we can create the conditions for positive change.”
Notes
The mission of the Interdepartmental & Industry Steering Group on Timber in Construction is to develop a forum with Government and Industry to work collaboratively:
- to create the conditions to increase the use of timber in construction whilst ensuring the highest degree of building safety and property protection
- to examine regulatory and standardisation standards challenges
- to maximise the use of home-grown timber in construction
The independent chair of the group is Professor J Owen Lewis. Membership of the group is as follows.
| Name | Industry and representative bodies |
| Andrew Carpenter | UK Structural Timber Association |
| David Browne | RIAI- Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland |
| Dermot O’Donnell | Fire Safety Engineer, ARUP |
| Des O’Toole | Coillte |
| Duncan Stewart | Earth Horizon Productions |
| Hugh O’Connor | Building Materials Federation - IBEC |
| J Owen Lewis | Chair |
| Pat Barry | Irish Green Building Council |
| Patrick McGetrick | TERG- University of Galway |
| Peter de Lacy Staunton | ITFMA- Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers Association |
| Sarah-Jane Pisciotti | Innovation and Design, SISK |
| Name | Departments, public bodies and agencies |
| Paul Savage | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
| Feargal Ó Coigligh | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
| Brian Carroll | Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications |
| Joseph Cummins | Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
| Ciaran O'Connor | OPW- Office of Public Works |
| John Brannigan | City and County Managers Association (CCMA/LGMA) (Fire and Building Control Authorities) |
Ireland's Forest Strategy 2023-2030
The Forest Strategy covers the period to 2030 and aims to significantly increase the diversity and range of our forests, with the objective of contributing to biodiversity, sustainability and climate change goals. The Forest Strategy Implementation Plan, which includes the Forestry Programme set out the actions which will realise the ambitions in the Forest Strategy.