The inaugural Towards Net Zero Ireland Construction Awards take place in Dublin on 18th November 2022.
The awards aim to help industry and move the market towards Net Zero energy and carbon by recognizing the leadership of architects, engineers, contractors, developers and clients who demonstrate significant progress along the path towards Net Zero energy and carbon.
This category recognises projects that provide high-quality workplace environments while pursuing Net-Zero strategies that ensure a reduction in energy use and carbon emissions, thereby impacting the effects of our everyday work practices.
This category recognises projects commissioned by public or semi-public bodies and agencies that demonstrate a civic function and are accessible to all. Such buildings should illustrate an overlapping interest in the provision of public-facing functions alongside ambitious sustainability objectives.
This category recognises the role industrial buildings can play in meeting Net-Zero targets and ensuring the country’s collective carbon footprint is reduced – ranging from spaces of construction and fabrication to logistics and retail.
This category recognises urban dwelling schemes that seek to maximise the energy efficiencies to be gained in dense, residential development, while taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by communal buildings in terms of both design and operation.
This category recognises multi-unit residential projects that aim to reimagine the sustainable credientials of the typical Irish suburban housing estate – a type of development often associated with promoting carbon-intensive lifestyles but which also holds a significant capacity for change and innovation.
Constructionjobsireland.ie is Ireland’s new online jobs board for the construction industry. Our tools and services give jobseekers the best possible opportunity to find the ideal job.
Simply click, search & apply directly to employers recruiting right now. Take the next step and find your perfect job.
Chair of the Judging Panel, Liam O’Gorman, said: “Reviewing the submissions for the 2022 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards has portrayed an evolving landscape wherein the industry responded to a host of unprecedented challenges such as Covid 19, Climate Change, staff retention, health and upskilling along with everchanging product standards and regulations.
“Over the past three years the sector has shown great ingenuity and leadership in handling these issues whilst at the same time maintaining a strong focus within their local communities.”
Connacht/Donegal/Monaghan/Cavan Regional Award
Ganly’s Athlone, Roscommon
Joyce’s Hardware & Home, Headford, Galway
The Cope Topline Builders Providers, Dungloe, Donegal
TJ O’Mahony Oranmore, Galway
Leinster Regional Award
Chadwicks Bray, Co Wicklow
Murdock Builders Merchants Ltd Balbriggan, Co Dublin
Rooney’s Homevalue, Kells, Co. Meath
TJ O’Mahony Ballymount, Dublin 24
Munster Regional Award
Chadwicks Limerick
McMahons Builders Providers Limerick
Morris Builders Providers Ltd, Waterford
Northern Ireland Regional Award
Haldane Fisher Newry, Co Down
Haldane Fisher Portadown (Castle Street), Co Armagh
JP Corry Springfield Road, Belfast
Murdock Builders Merchants Ltd Newry, Co Down
Excellence in Business Management
Brooks Bluebell, Dublin 12
Chadwicks Coolock, Dublin 17
Chadwicks Gorey, Co Wexford
The Cope Topline Builders Providers, Dungloe, Donegal
Excellence in Customer Service
Chadwicks Santry, Dublin 9
Core Builders Providers Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Murdock Builders Merchants Ltd Derry
Nioclas O Conchubhair Teo, Connemara, Costelloe, Co Galway
Excellence in Sales and Marketing
Ganly’s Longford
JP Corry Bangor, Co Down
Murdock Builders Merchants Ltd Ballymount, Dublin 12
TJ O’Mahony Oranmore, Galway
Excellence in Sustainable Business
Brooks Galway
Chadwicks Galway
JP Corry Newry, Co Down
TJ O’Mahony Ballymount, Dublin 24
Excellence in Community Outreach
Brooks Bluebell, Dublin 12
Chadwicks Thomas Street, Dublin 8
Joyce’s Hardware & Home, Headford, Co Galway
Rooney’s Homevalue, Kells, Co Meath
Rising Star Award
Patrick Burke – Joyce’s Hardware & Home, Headford, Co Galway
Laura Cassidy – Rooney’s Homevalue, Kells, Co Meath
Simon Cummings – JP Corry Dromore, Co Down
Maggie Dillon – JP Corry Robert Guy, Ballymena, Co Antrim
Patrick Donlon – Brooks Galway
Lee Dunne – Brooks Bluebell, Dublin 12
Matt Johnston – Murdock Builders Merchants Ltd Castlereagh, Belfast
Mark Nicholson – Haldane Fisher Newry, Co Down
Anthony Smith – Haldane Fisher Portadown (Castle Street), Co Armagh
This year’s event will feature the fourth annual Southern Construct Summit and this year for the first time, it will be complemented by a large-scale exhibition.
The Summit & Exhibition will bring together senior sector leaders, policy-makers and other stakeholders to hear the latest updates helping to address the challenges facing the industry. It is an exciting time for the sector as the economic outlook for the construction industry is largely positive for the year ahead. The Summit itself will have a particular focus on the South-East, Mid-West and the South looking at how the region and, in particular Cork, needs investment to ensure successful infrastructural development for its future.
Conference topics include:
Who will attend?
Constructionjobsireland.ie is Ireland’s new online jobs board for the construction industry. Our tools and services give jobseekers the best possible opportunity to find the ideal job.
Simply click, search & apply directly to employers recruiting right now. Take the next step and find your perfect job.
Kerry College is offering a Traditional Stonewall Construction QQI Level 4 Special Purpose Award Certificate. Develop the knowledge and skills required to build a variety of traditional stone walls.
There are no fees payable on this course. All materials and books are provided.
The successful completion of this programme will enable graduates to work in the Construction Sector building stonewalls using a number of different traditional styles.
Kerry College is Ireland’s first and only integrated provider of Further Education and Training offering clear routes to employment, third level and apprenticeship. With five campuses to choose from and up to 180 courses across the board, there is something for everybody.
Study, learn, explore and unlock your potential at campus locations that are connected to the local communities with instructors, teachers, tutors and support staff that keep you focused, on-track and happy.
Constructionjobsireland.ie is Ireland’s new online jobs board for the construction industry. Our tools and services give jobseekers the best possible opportunity to find the ideal job.
Simply click, search & apply directly to employers recruiting right now. Take the next step and find your perfect job.
A significant investment in construction skills for the Midlands region include
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD said:
“I was thrilled... to formally launch the country’s first ever scaffolding apprenticeship, to announce the new Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction, and to congratulate Laois & Offaly ETB on succeeding on the next step towards increasing capacity at their retrofitting and NZEB Training Centre.
“With the addition of the Demonstration Park this will now become the National Construction Training Campus.
“This new and exciting apprenticeship programme was developed primarily to address skills shortages in scaffolding across the country. We know the country is crying out for people with the skills to build houses and this is yet another step towards delivering on our targets under the Government’s Housing for All strategy.
“But the apprenticeship was also designed to improve health and safety conditions for construction workers as data from the Health and Safety Authority shows nearly half of fatal accidents on building sites involved falls from heights.
“It is our duty to ensure workers have the skills and training to work to the highest standards, and that they remain safe while doing so.”
Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins added:
“The Government is committed to delivering the housing the country needs, but in order to make this happen we need people with the skills to build them.
“This new apprenticeship, and the other positive announcements for Laois & Offaly ETB today, are really important steps on the path to ensuring we have a highly knowledgeable and skill workforce in the building sector.
“These developments will benefit Government policy including the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 – 2025, Housing for All and the National Retrofit Plan.”
The Mount Lucas proposal to increase capacity at its retrofitting and NZEB training facility is the first project approved to progress to the next stage of development under the Strategic Infrastructure Fund (SIUF) programme call which was launched earlier this year. A number of other projects will be announced in the coming weeks.
The next stage will be the appointment of a Design Team by Laois & Offaly ETB to bring the project through the design and planning process.
Targeted capital investment will also support the transformation agenda across the FET sector and ensure our campuses are flexible and future-proofed.
Minister Harris said:
“This expansion will focus on increasing training capacity for Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) skills and allow us to better respond to the critical skills gaps in the construction sector in particular retrofit and modern methods of construction. The campus will provide for the development of real pathways in the Further Education and Training and Higher Education sectors while also continuing to provide special awards for upskilling the current workforce.”
“Mount Lucas has and continues to play a leading role in the area of retrofitting training programmes. A centre of excellence in this area, it has played a key role in responding to training needs for the counties of Laois and Offaly and surrounding areas. It continues to play a critical role in ensuring that we have a skilled workforce to meet head on the challenges we face as a country under the Climate Action agenda.
“This next phase of investment will position the sector to cater for rising demand for those seeking to reskill and upskill throughout their lives.”
“I would like to thank SOLAS who have worked closely with my Department in the assessment of these projects and their continued work in bringing projects to the next phase of development.”
Linking in with the development of the scaffolding apprenticeship, a key action in Housing for All, the Government’s housing plan to 2030, is the development of sustainable innovation in the residential construction sector.
The creation of the Demonstration Park at Mount Lucas will illustrate Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in response to this.
Minister Harris added:
“This Demonstration Park will facilitate the showcasing of innovative MMC products and systems, and in particular those that will directly impact our housing sector for the better.
Guaranteed Irish invites you to join the conversation with Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage discussing The Future of Sustainable Housing in Ireland.
Continental breakfast provided.
Guaranteed Irish symbol is the national symbol of trust in business in Ireland. The official Guaranteed Irish licenced mark is awarded to businesses based in Ireland that support sustainable jobs, contribute to our local communities, and are committed to Irish provenance.
Darragh O'Brien is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage since June 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Fingal constituency since the 2016 general election, and previously from 2007 to 2011 for the Dublin North constituency.
Grant Engineering is running a free Heat Pump Training course iIntended for domestic heating and renewable installers who wish to know more about the new Grant Aerona³ air source heat pump range.
This training course covers both the Grant Aerona³ heat pump, Grant VortexAir Hybrid as well as the Grant Evolink.
The course takes place on Thu, 14 July 2022 09:00 – 16:00 at Grant Engineering (IRL) ULC, Crinkle, R42 D788, Birr
Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is running its next Robotic Welding Traineeship in September at its Limerick facility and places are limited. If you can weld, you can be a robotic welder!
This traineeship will arm the next generation of welders with the skills required to work in today’s advanced manufacturing industry. Developed in partnership with DesignPro Automation, you will discover the key functions of a welding robot, develop robotic programming skills and learn the most advanced mechanised welding techniques.
The Learning outcomes will cover:
Manual Handling
Safe Pass
Abrasive Wheels
Robotic Safety
Robotic Axis manipulation
Robot specific welding theory
Robot calibration
Welding Carbon Steel
Work Experience
On successful completion, you will receive 3 ISO certified robotic welding qualifications, empowering you to gain employment as a Robotic Welding Operator/Programmer in the manufacturing and engineering industries. You may also progress to Advanced Robotic Welding Programming and Robotic Simulating.
Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board: Delivering courses to 25,000 learners in Limerick and Clare each year
Are you interested in working as an apprenticeship instructor? Kerry College is now recruiting qualified electricians for its Electrical Instructor Cover Panel.
The Electrical Instructor Cover Panel instructs Learners/Apprentices in all aspects of the prescribed syllabus to the highest standard and in accordance with Quality Assurance systems.
Gas Networks Ireland will begin construction of Ireland’s first large-scale renewable gas injection facility next summer.
The €30 million Green Renewable Agricultural Zero Emissions (GRAZE) renewable gas project also includes the construction of a central grid injection (CGI) facility in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.
The new facility will receive and inject biomethane – a carbon neutral renewable gas made from farm and food waste through a process call anaerobic digestion – from up to 20 local farm-based producers.
Biomethane is fully compatible with the existing national gas network, appliances, technologies and vehicles, and will seamlessly replace natural gas to reduce emissions in heating, industry, transport and power generation, while also supporting the decarbonisation of the agri-food sector.
At maximum capacity, the facility will inject enough biomethane to meet the requirements of up to 64,000 homes.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, said:
“The GRAZE project is being funded under the Climate Action Fund, which is administered by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
“This project shows how we can diversify our gas supplies, by speeding up the roll-out of renewable gases like biomethane. Projects such as this will reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels, which is especially important now in the context of the war in Ukraine. The Government’s National Energy Security Framework, which sets out how Ireland is prepared to deal with potential shocks to our energy system, has highlighted the need for alternatives to natural gas, such as biomethane and hydrogen, to be developed to enhance Ireland’s security of supply and provide additional diversification for Ireland’s energy mix.”
“It will contribute to our broader climate goals – of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.”
“This project, which champions sustainably-produced, carbon-neutral renewable gas, also exemplifies the principles of the circular economy. By recycling and re-using food and farm waste we can create cleaner energy – for electricity, heat and transport.”
The renewable gas injection facility will be the centrepiece of the project, which is aimed at creating a new co-op style, sustainable farm-based renewable gas industry in the region.
“Ireland’s national gas network must be repurposed to transport renewable biomethane and hydrogen at scale,” said Gas Networks Ireland Chief Executive Cathal Marley.
“Gas Networks Ireland is uniquely placed to deliver the necessary change, and with projects such as GRAZE, we’re already working hard to help deliver Ireland’s sustainable energy future.”
Mr Marley said the GRAZE project is designed to showcase large-scale agricultural biomethane clusters that can be replicated in other locations throughout the State.
“Investing in biomethane in a large-scale manner has many benefits – both for the energy sector and Irish agriculture,” Mr Marley added.
“It will create significant employment, with up to 6,500 new jobs, mainly in rural Ireland, and provide new income opportunities for local communities from the sale of biomethane, feedstock used to produce the renewable gas and also a highly effective organic bio-fertiliser digestate that is a by-product of the process.
“A domestic biomethane industry would not only support the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector, but it would also provide significant opportunities for rural communities and facilitate sustainable circular economies, with businesses powering their operations via renewable gas made from their own waste.”
Led by Gas Networks Ireland, the GRAZE project is supported by more than €8.4 million in funding from the Climate Action Fund, as part of the Government’s National Energy Security Framework.
Planning permission for the Central Grid Injection facility has already been granted by An Bord Pleanála and Cork County Council, and construction is expected to get underway next year.
The Climate Action Plan has set a target of 1.6 TWh of natural gas – around 3% of Ireland’s gas usage – to be replaced by biomethane by 2030.
