The Higher Diploma in Building Information Modelling is a 2-year course run by Atlantic Technological University, Galway.
BIM has changed the way industry professionals worldwide think about how technology can be applied to building design, construction, and management. BIM also supports the continuous and immediate availability of project design, scope, schedule, and cost information that is high quality, reliable, integrated, and fully coordinated. This Higher Diploma in Building Information Modelling programme is designed as a direct response to the skill and competency needs of the construction industry.
IRELAND'S CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING SECTORS' UPCOMING
JOBS & RECRUITMENT EVENT
RETURNS TO THE RDS IN 2025
DATE
Saturday, 22nd March, 2025
LOCATION
Serpentine Hall, Hall 3, RDS, Dublin
EXHIBITORS
20+ Companies
SEMINARS
Full Day Of Industry Talks
Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called for urgent action following new findings from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, which reveal that Ireland’s infrastructure is lagging 25% behind that of other high-income European economies.
Deputy Bacik pointed to this gap as a direct result of government inaction, emphasising that despite having ample resources, the government has failed to invest adequately in critical infrastructure, skills gaps, housing, and services to permanently alleviate the cost-of-living crisis.
Deputy Bacik said:
“This government has had the means, yet we are seeing a stark reality where, in one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, our infrastructure and services are decades behind. While other European nations forge ahead with modernised infrastructure, Ireland remains stunted due to a lack of political will to invest in lasting solutions.
“These deficits are not just numbers on a page—they represent families struggling to find housing, parents unable to access affordable childcare, and communities affected by a lack of essential services. In Labour’s Alternative Budget 2025, we outlined a clear, bold path to close these gaps. We proposed 6,000 new publicly funded childcare places to support working families and advocated for a full year of paid parental leave to ease the financial strain on young families. Additionally, Labour is committed to building 6,000 more social and affordable homes each year, targeting the housing crisis at its root.”
Deputy Bacik highlighted the need to build a skilled workforce as well as the capacity for modern construction methods to create lasting improvements.
“A key barrier to bridging this infrastructure gap is our skills shortage, which has been largely ignored by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. We need to invest in skills that are critical to developing and maintaining robust public infrastructure. Furthermore, we must embrace modern construction methods that many other high-income European countries have already adopted, helping to deliver quality public projects faster and more cost-effectively.
“The reality is that this Government has unprecedented budget surpluses—funds that are the envy of many countries. Yet, these funds have not been channelled into building the infrastructure we desperately need. Ireland cannot afford to remain a cash-rich country with poor infrastructure; the paradox is a disservice to the Irish people.”
Labour’s Budget, Deputy Bacik argued, was a comprehensive, realistic plan that would offer immediate and long-term solutions for Irish families and communities.
“In our Budget, Labour put forth radical but realistic proposals aimed directly at Ireland’s chronic infrastructure deficits. Our budget plan addressed key economic insecurities and laid out structured, achievable goals that would have delivered true, positive change in people’s lives.
“It’s clear that investment in infrastructure is not just about roads or buildings; it’s about reducing economic insecurity for Irish families. Our Labour Budget was focused on people—on their needs and their futures. It was a budget designed to provide the public with services they can count on, giving all of us confidence that our country is prepared for the challenges ahead.
“The next Minister for Finance will inherit a huge budget surplus, yet we have public services and infrastructure that should shame us. It’s time for a government that puts these resources to use for the people—building a society where cash-rich doesn’t mean infrastructure-poor, and where every Irish person can enjoy the prosperity this country is capable of achieving. We must make these critical investments now.”
IRELAND'S CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING SECTORS' UPCOMING
JOBS & RECRUITMENT EVENT
RETURNS TO THE RDS IN 2025
DATE
Saturday, 22nd March, 2025
LOCATION
Serpentine Hall, Hall 3, RDS, Dublin
EXHIBITORS
20+ Companies
SEMINARS
Full Day Of Industry Talks
A new report “Timber in Construction Academic Survey” by the Timber in Construction Steering Group evaluates the current approach in Ireland to teaching engineers and architects in third level institutions on the use of timber in construction. Recommendations are provided on the academic supports needed for timber in construction and the growing need to include much more timber content in the core syllabus of third level courses.
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IRELAND'S CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING SECTORS' UPCOMING
JOBS & RECRUITMENT EVENT
RETURNS TO THE RDS IN 2025
DATE
Saturday, 22nd March, 2025
LOCATION
Serpentine Hall, Hall 3, RDS, Dublin
EXHIBITORS
20+ Companies
SEMINARS
Full Day Of Industry Talks
A new reports titled “Global Policies Influencing the Greater Adoption of Timber in Construction” by the Timber in Construction Steering Group identifies and summarises key policies, strategies and regulatory frameworks used in other countries around the world influencing the greater adoption of timber in construction.
The report also provides recommendations on the best practice in raising awareness of the benefits of using timber and the importance of long-term carbon storage in the context of climate change.
Global Policies Influencing the Greater Adoption of Timber in Construction
The Report concludes with the following:
To enhance the use of timber in construction, Ireland
can draw valuable lessons from international
practices. Below are recommendations based on the
successful policies, mechanisms, and levers adopted
by other countries highlighted within this report:
1. Education, Skills and Knowledge Initiatives:
Ireland should implement a skills and educational
framework to ensure workforce competency at all
levels with professional pathways, as well as broader
sector and public understanding. To enhance this,
promotion campaigns should be leveraged to
disseminate knowledge about timber use in
construction. This can include outreach activities
targeting both industry professionals and the general
public, as well as providing detailed guidance and
recommendations for using timber. Establishing
frameworks for upskilling and reskilling industry
professionals in timber construction techniques is
crucial to overcome highlighted skill gaps and
misconceptions about timber's strength, durability,
and cost.
2. Increasing Timber Supply: Increasing Timber
Supply:
To ensure an increasing sustainable supply of
timber, Ireland needs to continue to support the
expansion of the forest estate as outlined in the
Forestry Programme 2023-2027 and Irelands Forest
Strategy.
This could be done by adopting similar strategies to
those implemented in the Austrian and German
bioeconomy strategies and the Swiss Aktionsplan
Holz. Alongside this, enhancing the circularity of
timber in construction by extending its lifespan and
increasing the availability of wood fibre materials will
support sustainable practices and ensure a steady
supply for construction needs.
3. Implementing Carbon Reduction Strategies:
Adopting regulatory compliance measures that set
minimum carbon reduction targets, akin to those
seen in France, Denmark and the Netherlands, can
drive the use of more sustainable materials like
timber. Recognising and rewarding voluntary
compliance projects that achieve proposed targets
will further encourage the construction industry to
embrace timber for its environmental benefits.
4. Fast-tracking Embodied Carbon Thresholds for
New Build Homes:
By following Denmark's proactive
approach and establishing stringent embodied
carbon thresholds for new homes, Ireland can
accelerate its transition to low carbon building
practices, promoting the use of more sustainable
materials such as timber. This initiative would
support Ireland's climate goals, foster the
development of a green economy, and demonstrate
leadership in environmental responsibility.
5. Showcasing Demonstrator Projects:
Ireland should invest in demonstrator projects that showcase
successful timber adoption. These projects can range
from small-scale domestic buildings to large
commercial structures and entire urban
developments. Demonstrator projects will provide
tangible evidence of timber's potential and
performance, helping to build confidence and
interest in timber construction. Creating innovation
zones which showcase “best in practice” on real
projects, some with “iconic” status, would support
raising the profile of timber and remove barriers.
6. Providing Financial Incentives:
Financial mechanisms such as tax reductions, direct funding,
loans, and grants can significantly promote the use of
timber in construction. For instance, Austria and
Canada have successfully utilised financial incentives
to encourage timber adoption. Ireland can develop
similar financial support systems to lower the
economic barriers for early timber construction
projects.
7. Supporting Research, Development, and
Innovation (RD&I):
Investing in research, development, and innovation projects is critical to
validating new timber-based building technologies.
Ireland can take inspiration from the RD&I efforts in
Germany and Switzerland, which focus on both
academic and industry-led projects to advance
timber construction technologies. Encouraging
collaboration between universities, research
institutions and industry will foster innovation and
practical applications of new timber technologies.
Fostering a culture of research and innovation locally,
with connection to international networks and best
practice, will support new technologies. This should
include R&D investment and the creation of
collaborative frameworks.
8. Address Regulatory Barriers:
Ireland should give consideration to removing regulatory barriers,
including those on fire performance, where approved
guidance, robust details, safe practices, and scientific
evidence exist through global knowledge exchange.
9. Developing Robust Policies and Regulatory
Frameworks
Ireland should develop and implement
robust policies and regulatory frameworks that
support timber construction. Learning from the
comprehensive timber policies in countries like the
UK, Austria, and Finland, Ireland can create a
supportive regulatory environment that facilitates the
adoption of timber in the construction sector. This
includes reviewing and potentially revising building
codes and standards to accommodate and encourage
timber use.
10. “Wood First” Policy:
A specific example of this would be a provision relating to sustainability policy,
similar to that implemented in France, which requires
all publicly procured buildings to be built using at
least 50% timber or other natural materials.
Embracing this type of “wood first” policy would
stimulate Ireland's forestry sector and drive
innovation in timber technologies. It directly aligns
with global sustainability goals and would support
local economies by fostering demand for domestic
timber, ultimately positioning Ireland as a leader in
green construction and environmental stewardship.11. Central Coordination:
Recognising the importance of coordinating these fundamental
drivers, Ireland has the opportunity to unite industry
innovation, academic expertise, and the scale of the
public sector, through a new ‘Centre of Excellence’.
This dedicated national resource would support
sustainability goals, deliver future workforce skills,
and drive economic growth. This approach is evident
across many of the counties evaluated in this report.
However, ambitions for success must be match by
significant government investment, with the report
highlighting how funding was effectively used to
pump-prime many of the successful initiatives.
By adopting these recommendations, Ireland could
significantly increase the use of timber in
construction, leveraging its environmental benefits
and aligning with global best practices for
sustainable development.
IRELAND'S CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING SECTORS' UPCOMING
JOBS & RECRUITMENT EVENT
RETURNS TO THE RDS IN 2025
DATE
Saturday, 22nd March, 2025
LOCATION
Serpentine Hall, Hall 3, RDS, Dublin
EXHIBITORS
20+ Companies
SEMINARS
Full Day Of Industry Talks
The Update to the Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction & - Retrofitting 2023-2030 has been launched highlighting the productivity dividend from the expansion of Modern Methods of Construction.
The Report contains detailed forecasts of the skills required to deliver an annual average of 50,000 new homes and retrofit an annual average of over 63,000 existing older homes over the period 2024 – 2030.
Some of the key findings of the report include:
Initiatives to increase skills and sectoral capacity are a major feature of Housing for All. This focus will continue and is now more crucial than ever as we look to increase our ambition under the Plan.
Addressing the Construction Sector Skills Forum at Trinity CollegeMinister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD said
“The Government is scaling up its ambition under the Housing for All Plan.
“And there has been incredible success already, with construction commenced on over 49,000 new homes in the twelve months to end-August, and new build completions expected to increase significantly towards the end of 2024.
“However, we are acutely aware that there are significant challenges ahead of us, not least the demand for tens of thousands of additional skilled workers by 2030 so we can increase our ambitions.
“And what this report makes abundantly clear is that the widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction is key to addressing the housing needs of our growing country.
“This will demand enthusiastic buy in from the construction sector, but it will also require my Department and partners in Government to implement a comprehensive strategy to deliver the skilled workers the industry needs to make the necessary changes.
“On foot of this report, an updated action plan for the tertiary education system is being developed by my Department, while we are also investing record sums in apprenticeships, building an MMC Demonstration Park at Mount Lucas, and Skillnet Ireland are developing the ‘Skillnet MMC Accelerate’ platform to showcase MMC projects.
“Complementary to these activities, and indeed to this Report, my Department is also developing an Action Plan in response to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs’ July report, Skills for Modern Methods of Construction - An Assessment of the Current and Future Skills Requirements for the Transition to Modern Methods of Construction.
“There is much more Government and industry are doing, and of course still need to do, in order meet the challenge of housing in this country, but we know that if we are innovative and collaborative in our approach, we will continue to increase delivery in the years ahead.”
To read the full report, go to An Update to the Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction and Retrofitting .
Construction Watch is taking place on 16 October 2024, Clayton Silver Springs, Cork.
Construction Watch is a must attend event for the residential construction sector in Ireland.
A full day conference among leading Irish policy & building standards experts and stakeholders exploring the intersection of housing & residential construction solutions that support engagement, research and government regulations and policy.
In collaboration with experts from the Construction Sector, who have a common goal to promote building standards, consumer protection and address common issues related to housing & residential construction at national & international level; network with trade exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates to hear from leading voices across the residential construction sector.
Industry 4.0 Skillnet, one of 70 Skillnet Ireland Business Networks nationwide, and University of Galway have launched cutting-edge programmes designed to meet the evolving needs of the construction sector.
This module will cover the broad areas of building information modelling (BIM) technology, digital twinning, visualisation methods and their standard approaches within the construction sector. Digitalisation is fundamentally changing the ways in which construction teams interact. Technologies such as BIM can seamlessly monitor the materials and products delivered to the construction site, in a manner that respects the need for sustainability and traceability. Furthermore, sensors can provide the data for digital twins and their incorporation into construction elements, thus the ability to analyse and exploit the large volumes of data is required.
Furthermore, augmented reality technologies are beginning to be used for tasks such as site inspections, allowing continuous monitoring of construction process and conducting quality control checks with greater ease. Technologies such as these are fundamentally changing the way in which construction projects are managed and lead to new work processes. This module will engage with learners to ensure they are fully prepared for the potential of these new work practices. This module is a science-based approach and key tools, methods and materials will be explored.
Start date 04/11/24 until 13/01/25
As part of this module, learners will develop skills in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), as the sector moves rapidly towards Industry 4.0. The module will cover key areas of standardisation and routes to certification, next generation rapid build systems (off-site panelised and modular construction), automation and autonomous construction. This module is a science-based approach and key tools, methods and materials will be explored.
Start date 14/01/25 end date: 10/03/25
This Level 9 Postgraduate Certificate in Modern Methods of Construction focuses on the latest advancements and sustainable practices in the construction sector. Delivered in a fully flexible format to accommodate working professionals, this one-year course offers modules in Sustainability Planning in Construction, Digital Construction Technologies and Modern Methods of Construction.
This Level 8 Specialist Diploma in Automation and Control is a fully online one-year course and offers in-depth training in automation, critical for modern construction and manufacturing sectors. The curriculum includes modules in machine design, automation, manufacturing technology and an industry-based capstone project which can be based in the student’s company and aims to assist the organisation to develop innovative practices in relation to industrial control systems, robotics and production lines.
"Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability and BIM for Design and Construction Upskilling" is a half-day and in-person & online event taking place at TU Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday, October 15 · 9 - 11:30am
Register now and learn about the ARISE e-learning platform and its content on BIM applied to energy efficiency and the next steps of energy efficiency in construction.
The event will take place in person and online.
The ARISE e-learning platform is a comprehensive online learning platform designed to provide educational resources and training programs. It offers a wide range of courses and modules covering various topics and industries.
Key features and benefits of the ARISE e-learning platform:
ARISE e-learning platform can be used for various purposes, including:
The part-time Certificate in Introduction to BIM (using Revit) programme consists of one module taught over one semester. This programme is designed to introduce Building Information Modelling (BIM) and explore and develop basic skills in Building Information Modelling (BIM) using Revit.
Learners are introduced to the software Revit, and will develop an understanding of BIM’s technical issues through individual effort. They will extract 2D documentation plans, sections, elevations from the model, and render 3D views to a high degree of expertise.
The programme creates opportunities for learners to take individual professional design responsibility of their product and their process and develop an ability to lead teams within their disciplines. Through the course, students will:
| Training Provider | Griffith College Dublin (GCD) |
