Old challenges bringing new opportunities to construction

The latest IHBA Housebuilding Summit highlighted the long road to meeting Ireland’s housing shortage, but in a time of great change comes great opportunities, Quinton O’Reilly reports

Cian O’Mahony, head of operations, SIRO; Ivan Gaine, managing director – Sherry FitzGerald New Homes; James Benson, director, Housing, Planning and Development Services, CIF; John Downey, director, Downey Planning; Nico Van Der Merwe, VP of Home and Distribution, Schneider Electric and Fiona Cormican, new business director, Clúid Housing Pictures: Maura Hickey

The second IHBA (Irish Home Builder Associations) Housebuilding Summit, which took place in Croke Park on Tuesday April 5, was an important one.

Getting major stakeholders together, from the construction industry and the wider social and policy spheres, in the same room was a crucial step in solving a problem that has seeped into all facets of society.

The opening discussions and chats set the tone for the entire day, starting with the welcome from ...