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The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched its manifesto ahead of the Irish General Election on November 29, outlining a vision for a sustainable, high-quality built environment that benefits all members of society.

The manifesto, which can be read in full online, focuses on four key policy priorities:

Sustainability: The CIOB is calling for a firm policy response to reduce both embodied and operational carbon emissions in the built environment sector. This includes charging demolition at the full VAT rate and using stamp duty as a mechanism to encourage the retrofitting of older, less energy-efficient homes.

Quality: The CIOB is urging the next government to challenge the industry to build better and to address the high cost of land, which is driving down quality. The organisation is proposing a more proactive policy approach to the land market and adequate resourcing for public authorities involved in the construction process.

Skills and Labour: The CIOB is highlighting the need to address the construction skills gap, which is estimated to be between 70,000 and 80,000 workers. The organisation is proposing the development of apprenticeship schemes to cover more subjects in the built environment curriculum, targeting specific groups to foster greater diversity, and addressing the boom-and-bust reputation of the construction sector by providing a public pipeline of residential building projects.

Innovation: The CIOB believes that Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can be one of the solutions to the construction sector’s multifaceted challenges. The organisation is proposing fostering the adoption of MMC through direct build social housing and broadening Technical Guidance Documents to include materials used in offsite construction.

Annette Main, Chair of the CIOB Ireland Committee, said: “The quality of our built environment affects every member of society. It influences productivity and well-being at home and at work. It creates and maintains the places where we live, work and play, the infrastructure that supports us, and the services that sustain us.

"We strongly believe that amongst the many competing voices to be heard at an election, the views of the built environment profession should be prominent, to highlight the challenges and the opportunities that our important sector faces.”

This article appears on the CIOB news and blog site as 'CIOB Ireland launches manifesto for 2024 General Election' dated 18 November, 2024.

--CIOB

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