Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister of State James Lawless have welcomed the overall Exchequer allocation of €3.9 billion next year for the Department of Transport, an increase of over €480 million from 2024. The allocation comprises €2.9 billion of capital funding and €1 billion of current funding.
This allocation in Budget 2025 means that public transport roll-out can continue at pace, with an allocation of over €1.6 billion in total. This includes funding secured to continue the roll-out of new public transport services next year.
It means that across the country, new and enhanced BusConnects, Connecting Ireland, and new town services will continue to expand. Budget 2025 allows for two new town bus services in Ennis and Mullingar. It also provides for the first of the BusConnects Dublin Core Bus Corridors to enter construction next year, following recent planning approval. It provides almost €600 million of investment in our heavy rail network, including projects such as the continued roll-out of the DART+ Programme, the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme and rail station upgrades. Funding is also provided for MetroLink to proceed through the planning process towards construction.
Budget 2025 is good news for families and commuters. Funding has been secured for an extension of free child fares on Public Service Obligation services, to include children aged 5-8 years for the first time. This budget continues to support the current fare initiatives, including the Young Adult Card and Student Leap Card, up to the end of 2025.
The Government’s commitment to spend €1 million a day on walking and cycling infrastructure is also further secured in this budget. This funding includes expansion of ‘Safe Routes to Schools’ projects, making it safer for more children to walk or cycle to school.
The safety of all road users continues to be a government priority. Budget 2025 supports this aim with €1.36 billion for national and local road networks and road safety measures. Included in this allocation is €988 million for the protection and renewal of the Irish road system. Of this, an additional €50 million is earmarked for regional and local roads, and will fund measures to improve road safety, climate adaptation and improve regional accessibility. A further €40 million will be provided to local authorities to support the roll-out of updated speed limit signs across all jurisdictions. Funding of over €308 million for new roads under the National Development Plan will increase connectivity across the entire country. Projects include the M50 Traffic Control and Management upgrade in Dublin, N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge works in Roscommon, and N21/69 Limerick to Foynes works in Limerick. Regarding the regional and local road network, projects such as the Tralee Relief Road, Killaloe Bypass/R494 upgrade scheme and the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road will continue at pace.
Budget 2025 continues funding to key road safety agencies including the Medical Bureau of Road Safety and the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Following the Department-commissioned independent review of the RSA, there will be dedicated RSA funding of €18 million in 2025 for awareness, education and promotional campaigns. This is part of a wider shift to bring a renewed focus on campaigns that make our roads safer for all road users.
In the longer term, it is proposed that the RSA become a ‘Driver and Vehicle Services Agency’, focusing on core responsibilities such as driver licencing and testing services. A new, dedicated Road Safety Office will be proposed to run road safety awareness, education and promotional campaigns. Full details of the proposals will be brought to Government shortly and published.
Budget 2025 measures also provide €28 million in funding to maintain vital support for our regional airports, supporting connectivity and enhancing balanced regional development, and to support regulatory and policy functions in civil aviation.
Next year will be an important milestone for the Irish Coast Guard as it transitions to a new Aviation Services Contract. An additional allocation of over €70 million, bringing the total Coast Guard budget to €165m, will support this change and allow the organisation to continue to operate a world-class emergency response service and promote and protect Ireland’s economic interests as an island nation.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said:
“This budget signals the progression of public transport initiatives from planning into construction and operation, with Core Bus Corridors in Dublin anticipated to commence build work from next year, joining other important projects already under construction such as Cork Area Commuter Rail.
“It is also important to look back at how far we have come. In 2020, when this Government took office, the transport budget for that year was €3 billion. For budget 2025 it will stand at €3.9 billion. The capital element of the budget has increased over the life of this Government by almost €1 billion. That is an extra €1 billion being spent on improving our transport system to support economic prosperity, well-being and social equity, and environmental sustainability.
“We have seen transport change hugely over the lifetime of this Government. It has been a priority for me and for my colleagues to expand our public transport service and to ensure that the cost of transport is affordable and fair for all. I am delighted to announce that Budget 2025 provides funding for the expansion of free child fares on Public Service Obligation services to include those aged 5-8 years. Our passenger numbers continue to grow and whenever we introduce a new service, we see that people, and particularly young people, are flocking to it. While we still have work to do, I think it will be very difficult to reverse the positive change in modal shift away from private cars that we have seen across the country in recent years, and the growing demand for a reliable public transport network that we’re seeing every day.
“The development of our ports is key to our future competitiveness, so I am pleased to announce today that a financing agreement has been reached between the Port of Cork and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to extend the Port’s quay-side berth at Ringaskiddy. The agreement, a €99 million financing package, will allow the Port of Cork to develop multi-purpose port infrastructure capable of meeting the requirements of the offshore renewable energy sector. The agreement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to deliver a greener, more sustainable future.”
Minister of State James Lawless said:
“Having a road safety framework that is fit for purpose is, of course, front and centre in all of our minds. To that end, this year’s Budget allocations again focus on the most important role of Government, which is keeping the public safe.
“The funding earmarked in Budget 2025 for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) will help ensure the safety of our roads system for all those who use it. The RSA will this year dedicate funding of €18 million to promote safety awareness and education among all road users. I have been working hard to ensure that road safety is put on a firm footing since I became Minister, and proposals will be brought to Government shortly to present the conclusions of the root-and-branch independent review of the arrangements in place.
“As a commuter as well as Minister of State, I welcome that construction will start on the first of the Core Bus Corridors as part of BusConnects Dublin next year. This marks a major milestone in the delivery of our major capital projects, and will help to provide a more efficient and reliable bus service, supporting people in making the shift from private car travel to public transport, in line with our decarbonisation goals.
“I’m eager to see construction start soon on DART+ West and DART+ South West and also eager to start planning now for extending those projects as set out in the GDA Transport Strategy.
“In terms of our broader connectivity, €17 million has been earmarked for funding our regional airports to support connectivity and enhance balanced regional development, given that 85% of flights still fly out of Dublin.
“Meanwhile, the staff and volunteers of the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) will continue to be able to serve the Irish public in their time of most need with their Budget 2025 allocation. Their role in saving lives at sea is one that I salute and am eager to fully support.
“Next year will mark a significant milestone for the Department as it completes the transition to a new Aviation Service contract for the Irish Coast Guard. The new service contract, which was awarded to Bristow Ireland Limited, will enable the Irish Coast Guard to continue to provide world-class maritime and inland search and rescue services, environmental monitoring, helicopter emergency medical and air ambulance services. For the first time, the Coast Guard aviation service will also include a fixed-wing aircraft element, which will provide valuable support across a range of Coast Guard roles. The phased introduction of the new aviation service for the Coast Guard will be completed in mid-2025.
“I have always believed that the most important role of Government is keeping our people safe and the roads, maritime and aviation measures in this Budget fully support that objective.”
Here’s what Budget 2025 will enable:
Making Public Transport Even More Affordable and Accessible
The Department of Transport budget funds all ‘Public Service Obligation’ (PSO) public transport services. These are services that support social cohesion and connection, and would not otherwise be offered by private operators.
Supporting Road Road Users and Road Safety
Changing the focus of the Road Safety Authority
Improving and Developing Rail and Bus Networks
Supporting Walking, Cycling and Scooting
Sustaining Regional Aviation
Delivering and Modernising Coast Guard Services
Strengthening Maritime and the Marine
Pacific Formwork is a prominent name in the construction industry, known for providing innovative and reliable formwork solutions across a variety of large-scale projects. Established with the vision of delivering high-quality construction services, the company has grown to become a key player in Australia’s booming infrastructure and development sector.
Pacific Formwork specializes in providing formwork systems, which are essential components in the construction of high-rise buildings, bridges, and other major infrastructure projects. Formwork refers to temporary or permanent molds into which concrete is poured to form structural elements. With a focus on efficiency, safety, and quality, Pacific Formwork delivers end-to-end formwork solutions, from design to installation, helping construction projects meet tight deadlines and budget constraints.
Over the years, Pacific Formwork has contributed to some of Australia’s most ambitious construction projects, including:
Their involvement in these projects has earned them a reputation for reliability, precision, and an ability to meet the demands of complex architectural designs.
One of the key differentiators for Pacific Formwork is its commitment to providing career opportunities for skilled professionals. The company regularly recruits talent from various fields, including engineering, project management, and skilled trades. They also support workforce development by offering training and upskilling programs, ensuring their employees stay at the cutting edge of industry innovations.
Additionally, Pacific Formwork’s global outlook makes it an attractive option for those looking to expand their careers internationally. The company is actively involved in projects not just in Australia, but also in New Zealand and Southeast Asia, with plans for further expansion into other international markets.
Graciete Ferreira, a key figure at Pacific Formwork, plays a pivotal role in promoting the company's vision and career opportunities, particularly for skilled workers seeking international opportunities.
At Jobs Expo Galway in September 2024, Graciete offered valuable insights into the growing demand for skilled workers in Australia, particularly in the construction sector. Her focus is on helping candidates understand the pathways to secure jobs and transition to a thriving career in Australia.
Pacific Formwork is a leading company in the construction sector, known for its expertise in delivering safe, efficient, and high-quality formwork solutions. With a reputation for supporting large-scale projects and a strong commitment to sustainability and safety, Pacific Formwork continues to be a trusted partner in Australia’s construction industry. Their focus on innovation, career development, and expanding global reach makes them an attractive choice for both clients and job seekers looking to engage with a dynamic and growing company.
Visit https://pacificformwork.com.au
Autodesk Revit, run by Clane Community School, Kildare, is designed for new users and incorporates the features, commands, and techniques for creating, editing, and printing drawings with Autodesk Revit.
Learners are introduced to the concepts of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the tools for parametric design, analysis, and documentation. Revit is increasingly becoming a necessary requirement for job applicants in the building design sector at home or abroad.
Competent computer skills required. Previous CAD experience an advantage but not essential.
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Autodesk Revit is a powerful Building Information Modeling (BIM) software used by architects, engineers, designers, and construction professionals. It facilitates the planning, design, construction, and management of buildings and infrastructure projects. Revit is known for its integrated, collaborative approach, allowing users to work on a shared model, where changes made to one part of the model automatically update throughout the entire project.
Key features of Revit include:
Overall, Revit streamlines the building design process, improving efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration across teams.
The National Economic and Social Council’s (NESC) has published Boosting Ireland’s Housing Supply: Modern Methods of Construction.
The need to boost housing supply has led Irish policy-makers, the construction sector and housing market interests to become increasingly focused on modern methods of construction (MMC). As an umbrella term, ‘MMC’ refers to technological advances, new product developments and building systems being delivered through increased digitalisation and emerging technologies. Materials and systems used in buildings must comply with the Building regulations and be fit for their intended use and conditions in which they are to be used. The distinct characteristic of MMC is the offsite manufacture (OSM) of buildings and their components in a factory setting and their follow-on transportation, onsite assembly and fabrication.
This report investigates the potential of MMC to significantly boost housing supply. It highlights progress under the MMC roadmap, an important and ambitious State policy designed to achieve greater adoption of MMC, which is of a high quality and complies with Building Regulations, in public housing delivery and in the housing system more widely.
Drawing on primary research, investigation and dialogue among key stakeholders, the report examines the benefits and challenges associated with MMC. It finds that greater adoption of MMC for residential development can be a ‘game changer’ for the Irish housing system, as it can drive higher productivity gains, substantially increase housing supply, and help meet the environmental goal of decarbonising housing – both new and existing stock.
The full NESC Report No.166, "Boosting Ireland’s Housing Supply: Modern Methods of Construction" can be read at http://www.nesc.ie/ .
The awards are an unrivalled opportunity for companies of all sizes to showcase their most forward-looking projects and initiatives, demonstrating how they are pushing the boundaries of technology, sustainability, and design to deliver exceptional results for clients.
The deadline for submission of entries is 29 November 2024.
Full details and entry:
Construct Innovate is Ireland’s national research centre for construction technology and innovation. Construct Innovate is part of Enterprise Ireland’s industry-led Technology Centre programme which aims to provide independent and evidence-based research through collaboration between industry members and research performing organisations. Construct Innovate’s brief focuses on devising solutions for key challenges faced by the construction and built environment industry, particularly in the residential sector.
Construct Innovate strives to support and run research initiatives to meet the demands of Ireland’s major building and investment programmes, such as Project Ireland 2040, National Development Plan 2021-2030, Housing for All, and the Climate Action Plan 2023.
The Centre was launched in December 2022 with an initial allocation of €5 million in core funding over five years from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland. A further €2 million has been secured by the centre under Enterprise Ireland’s equipment call, to acquire testing equipment for construction products.
The centre encourages industry engagement through a membership model which has grown to over 80 members to date. It runs a regular webinar series and in-person ‘academic-industry meeting’ (AIM) days to identify key industry research challenges and partners. The centre's Work Ready Graduate Programme has overseen 15 industry placements to date and two seed funding calls have been concluded by the centre that will see 36 collaborative projects receive up to €50,000 each in research funding.
To find out more about the Construct Innovate Technology Centre visit Construct Innovate – Ireland’s National Centre for Construction Innovation.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, has announced he is making an additional allocation of €5 million in funding available to Construct Innovate, Ireland’s national research centre for construction technology and innovation. The funding is to enable a new programme of housing-focused research at the Centre under Housing for All commitments.
The research and development funding, which will be made available over a three-year period under Enterprise Ireland’s Technology Centres programme, will support a range of applied research projects to advance innovation in the residential building industry.
Commenting on the funding, Minister Burke said:
“I am very pleased to be able to make this additional €5 million in funding available to Construct Innovate so that it can fulfil its mandate to address key research challenges in the area of housing.
“The increase in funding is the result of very fruitful engagement that has included the Construct Innovate consortium, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, industry, Enterprise Ireland, and my own department.
“The programme of housing research facilitated by this extra funding will have a positive impact in driving innovation, sustainable practices and efficient construction methods in residential construction. It will also help to enhance affordability and quality in delivering housing as well as increasing standardisation.”
Construct Innovate is an industry-led centre involving the academic consortium of University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, the Irish Green Building Council, and the host institution, University of Galway. It is the newest of nine centres in Enterprise Ireland’s industry-led Technology Centre network and the centre’s vision is to make Ireland a global research and innovation leader for sustainable construction and built environment technology.
Minister Burke added:
“Since its establishment, Construct Innovate has quickly asserted itself as a key partner and knowledge source for the construction industry in Ireland and beyond. Through collaborative research with the industry, the centre has a very important role to play in ensuring Ireland can apply innovative and sustainable approaches in meeting the demands of major building and investment programmes such as Housing for All and the National Development Plan.”
Construct Innovate has been steadily growing its industry membership since its establishment in late 2022 with currently over 80 companies as members, and recently concluded a second call for projects under its seed research initiative that will see 18 collaborative industry-academic research projects address challenges around productivity, quality, safety and sustainability, supported by over €1.1 million in funding. The centre's Work Ready Graduate Programme has overseen 15 industry placements to date.
Today’s announcement of an additional €5 million over three years, underpins a commitment in Housing for All for the Centre to prioritise housing-related research challenges. The six housing-related research projects, to commence immediately, will involve close collaboration between the centre’s research teams, industry partners, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Irish Green Building Council and others.
The research projects will be undertaken by highly experienced academic experts in close collaboration with industry. The aim will be to produce independent findings that will inform both industry and policymakers. Research outcomes will be fully open source and made available by Construct Innovate to all interested parties across the industry and beyond.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Daragh O’Brien TD said:
‘’This Construct Innovate funding will further realise the aims of Housing for All by prioritising research, which is embracing innovative techniques, streamlining construction processes and accelerating the supply of housing. It also signals this Government’s commitment to collaborating on a long-term strategy to ensure building excellence and more efficient construction.
‘’In particular, this €5 million funding for applied research seeks to respond to the construction sector and industry needs by finding cutting edge innovative solutions for real world building challenges to ultimately unlock high quality, faster and cost-effective supply of homes for people to live in.’’
Director of Construct Innovate, Prof. Jamie Goggins also commented:
“These collaborative research projects will address near and long-term challenges for the housing sector, including the current shortage of housing, quality issues with some of the existing housing stock, ensuring our homes are accessible for our ageing population allowing them to live in their homes for longer, and the impact of climate change on our homes. They are being led by excellent principal investigators in Construct Innovate partner institutions of University of Galway, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and Irish Green Building Council, utilising world-class research facilities and expertise available in our third level institutions in Ireland. The projects will be delivered in close collaboration with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, industry, and other key stakeholders in the construction and built environment sector.”
Neil Kerrigan, Department Manager, Technology, Infrastructure & Collaboration, Enterprise Ireland said:
“The Construct Innovate centre is one of nine established under Enterprise Ireland’s industry led Technology Centres Programme, which underpins Ireland’s research, development and innovation capabilities, all of which are key components of thriving businesses and are essential to maintaining a competitive edge in the market. The additional funding allocated to the Construct Innovate Centre will help accelerate innovation right across the value chain and increase the productivity, sustainability and export potential of Irish construction companies, while helping to reduce costs and build times for Ireland’s housing and infrastructural needs.”
Apprentice in Heavy Vehicle Mechanics with Sugrue Excavation Ltd, Gortboy, Beaufort, V93FP68
Contact Orla Sugrue by email at: jpsugrue@gmail.com
Architectural Technology And Design QQI Level 5 at Dunboyne College of Further Education is a one-year course is designed to provide students with the valuable skills needed to work in the architecture and design sectors or to progress to third level options.
The following modules will be offered subject to availability or demand and are subject to change:
Architectural Drawing
• Computer Aided Draughting (2D)
• Design Skills
• Safety and Health at Work
• Mathematics
• Combined materials
• Drawing
• Communications
• Work Experience
CERTIFICATION
• QQI Level 5 in Computer Aided Design 5M1940
Apply directly at www.dunboynecollege.ie
