Ireland has taken a further step towards expanding the safe use of timber in construction. The latest gov.ie update confirms that government departments and public agencies have begun implementing recommendations from the Timber in Construction Steering Group.
Minister of State Niall Collins welcomed the first meeting of the new coordination and implementation group, describing it as the next phase in the Government’s plan to support sustainable wood and mass engineered timber construction across Ireland.
Timber in construction enters implementation phase
The implementation group brings together representatives from departments, state bodies and agencies responsible for delivering seven priority recommendations in the Steering Group’s final report. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is chairing coordination meetings, which are intended to identify delivery routes and address barriers affecting the sector.
The work follows the establishment of the Timber in Construction Steering Group in November 2023. Its purpose was to bring government and industry together to examine how timber could be used more widely while maintaining high standards for building safety and property protection.
Key objectives include:
- Supporting the responsible use of home-grown timber in construction.
- Improving guidance for mass engineered timber projects.
- Addressing regulatory and standardisation challenges.
- Creating greater certainty for designers, builders and regulators.
National specification planned for mass engineered timber
Two new studies have now been published examining Irish and international standards, guidance and recommendations for a national technical specification. The reports were submitted to the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), which has agreed to explore the development of a National Technical Specification for mass engineered timber.
NSAI is seeking expressions of interest from technical professionals, academics and industry specialists to join a newly established technical committee. The committee will assess the potential scope of a national standard for Mass Engineered Timber, commonly referred to as MET.
According to the published material, the studies are designed to translate international evidence and best practice into approaches suitable for Ireland’s regulatory environment. This could help provide a clearer framework for safely using engineered wood products at scale.
What the new work could mean for Ireland
Greater standardisation may help improve confidence across the construction industry, particularly for housing and other developments where sustainable materials are being considered. It also supports wider cooperation between public bodies, procurement organisations, standards experts and industry.
Government departments and agencies involved
The coordination group includes the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Department of the Taoiseach, Enterprise Ireland, the County and City Management Association, the Local Government Operational Procurement Centre, NSAI and the Office of Public Works.
Progress will be reported to the Industry Capability Working Group linked to the Government’s housing action plan and to the Construction Sector Group led by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
What happens next?
The immediate priority is to maintain coordination between the participating departments and agencies while NSAI begins forming its technical committee. Interested experts can consult the NSAI notice on its website for information about joining the work.
Reports and studies produced by the Timber in Construction Steering Group are available through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s publication page. The initiative will remain focused on safe, sustainable and practical adoption rather than increasing timber use without appropriate technical safeguards.
The key takeaway: Ireland’s timber in construction strategy has moved from recommendations towards implementation, with a proposed national technical specification expected to provide a stronger foundation for safe mass engineered timber development.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
