The Future Fingal: Fingal Skills Strategy’s Modern Methods of Construction Event at Baldoyle Training Centre Highlights Fingal’s Role in Delivering Housing, Climate Action and Future Skills

As part of the Future Fingal: Fingal Skills Strategy, Fingal County Council today hosted a Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Briefing at Baldoyle Training Centre, bringing together industry, education/training and government stakeholders to highlight how education and skills training is supporting innovation in the construction sector and the delivery of the Government’s ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’ Plan to deliver 300,000 new homes by 2030.

The event advances delivery on objectives in the Future Fingal: Fingal Skills Strategy, which focuses on developing a future-ready skills pipeline to ensure that Fingal has the right workers, with the right skills for the jobs of future. The Fingal Skills Strategy supports the development of education and training provision which is responsive to the needs of industry through a strong collaborative approach, with local government working in partnership with industry and education/training stakeholders to identify and address skills challenges.

Aoife Sheridan Fingal County Council commented “Today’s event demonstrates how Modern Methods of Construction are reshaping how we deliver homes, reduce carbon emissions and create strong career pathways. Through the Future Fingal: Fingal Skills Strategy, we’re working with industry and education partners to ensure Fingal has the skilled workforce needed to drive innovation and build sustainable communities.” 

Attendees heard from speakers specialising in Modern Methods of Construction, including off-site construction, digital construction technologies and low-carbon building techniques reduce construction timeframes and enable the construction of highly energy efficient and low-carbon buildings from more sustainable construction materials enabling the faster, more sustainable delivery of housing and critical supporting infrastructure.

The event also advanced engagement with stakeholders on delivery of objectives in the Fingal Climate Action Plan, including improved energy efficiency, lower embodied carbon across the construction lifecycle and waste reduction. 

Dublin College’s Baldoyle Training Centre is a key local asset in delivering responsive, industry-aligned training, supporting apprenticeships and upskilling for existing employees in the sector, and providing clear progression pathways into sustainable employment within the construction sector.

Aidan Owens, manager of Baldoyle Training Centre said, “Baldoyle Training Centre was delighted to host today’s Modern Methods of Construction event and to welcome colleagues from DFHERIS, Skillnet Ireland, MMC Skillnet, TU Dublin and the CIF. Bringing industry, education and government together in one room is exactly what’s needed to accelerate Ireland’s transition to innovative, sustainable construction. We’re proud to play our part in building the skills pipeline that will support MMC adoption nationwide and ensure learners and employers are ready for the opportunities ahead.”

Damien Henehan from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science added, “The delivery of the Government’s ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’ Plan and meeting Ireland’s climate ambitions depends on having employees with the right skills in place to meet demand. Modern Methods of Construction are crucial to improving productivity and sustainability in the built environment, and today’s event demonstrates how national skills policy is being translated into real opportunities for learners and workers here in Fingal.”

Sharon McCarthy, Assistant Training Manager at Baldoyle Training Centre said, “Our role at Baldoyle Training Centre is to ensure that learners are equipped with skills that meet current and emerging industry needs. The Modern Methods of Construction training that the Training Centre offers supports the delivery of sustainable housing, aligns strongly with Fingal’s Skills Strategy and Climate Action Plan, and provides learners with practical, future-proof career opportunities within the construction sector.”

Denise Tuffy from the Construction Industry Federation added “Encompassing off-site manufacturing in construction is essential to meeting Ireland’s housing targets while reducing the environmental impact of construction. Events like this, aligned with the Fingal Skills Strategy, show how collaboration between industry, education/training providers and government can, working together, deliver the skilled workforce needed by the sector to support delivery of the Government’s ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’ Plan and realise a low-carbon future.”

Fingal County Council’s Modern Methods of Construction event reinforces the Council’s integrated approach to identifying and addressing industry skills needs and building a strong future talent pipeline.