From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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The Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett, today, announced the publication of two reports titled “Global Policies Influencing the Greater Adoption of Timber in Construction” and “Timber in Construction Academic Survey” by the Timber in Construction Steering Group. The first report identifies and summarises key policies, strategies and regulatory frameworks used in other countries around the world influencing the greater adoption of timber in construction. The report also provides recommendations on the best practice in raising awareness of the benefits of using timber and the importance of long-term carbon storage in the context of climate change. The second report evaluates the current approach in Ireland to teaching engineers and architects in third level institutions on the use of timber in construction. Recommendations are provided on the academic supports needed for timber in construction and the growing need to include much more timber content in the core syllabus of third level courses. Minister Hackett attended the Timber in Construction Steering group meeting today and received updates from the five working groups aimed at increasing the use of timber in construction.
Minister Hackett stated:
“I am delighted to publish these reports from the Timber in Construction Steering Group, the first two in a series of reports to be published in the coming months. These reports highlight the excellent opportunities to increase the use of timber in construction, and we need to look to the experiences of other countries that have successfully implemented policies such as wood first strategies and a regulatory environment that supports the wider use of timber. Our excellent timber resource in Ireland can provide the raw material to build with lower embodied carbon, and these reports will help us to devise a roadmap to embrace the use of timber at scale.”
Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien added:
“I am pleased to see the significant work and progress made by the Timber in Construction Steering Group, of which my department is a member, in contributing towards meeting Ireland's housing needs. It is important to build an understanding of how other countries have incorporated policies that support timber construction while ensuring the highest standards of building safety in the Irish context. As well as this report, I look forward to seeing recommendations for a National Technical Specification to take us forward in this area.”
After presenting the reports to the Minister, Professor J Owen Lewis, Chair of the Timber in Construction Steering Group, stated:
“I am pleased to welcome these reports which outline the positive effects of policies for promoting the greater use of timber in construction, and the current challenges for timber in an academic context. The extensive analysis of a diverse range of actions around the world is an excellent baseline to shape timber policies in Ireland, which is patently one of the priorities of the Timber in Construction Steering Group. Furthermore, it is evident that to ensure the necessary skills are available to advance timber in construction, long-term multifaceted educational approaches are required with support from industry stakeholders.”
Des O’Toole, Chair of the Communications Working Group also added:
"I welcome the release of these reports, which I believe resonate with many in our community who recognise the urgent need for a more sustainable built environment to meet our decarbonisation targets. Produced on behalf of the Timber in Construction Steering Group, Forest Industries Ireland and Coillte, with backing from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, these reports spotlight the increasing momentum and demand for timber in construction. They also emphasise the need for integrating timber-focused content into our construction and engineering curricula, to enable design practitioners to have the competencies to design with timber. Embracing timber as a core material in construction offers an essential solution to the pressing challenges we face in the construction sector, society, and our environment. However, we must act swiftly and decisively to secure a sustainable future."
Photo Caption: L to R: Professor J Owen Lewis (Chair); Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett; Des O'Toole (Sub Chair); outside Government Buildings at today's launch of two reports from the Timber in Construction Steering Group on Global Timber Policies and a review of Timber in Education.
The Timber in Construction Steering Group was established 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 challenges; and to maximise the use of home-grown timber in construction. Timber in Construction Steering Group (www.gov.ie).
The Steering Group of 16 members and the Independent Chair were appointed by Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett. The Group is supported by five thematic groups comprising over 60 members across a wide range of stakeholders. The members represent key industry bodies, as well as senior representatives of relevant government departments and agencies with responsibilities for policy and the development of sectors. These thematic groups include:
The Timber in Construction Steering Group met for the first time on 6 November 2023, and a total of seven meetings have been held to date.