Engineers Ireland welcomes the ‘Draft document between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to facilitate negotiations with other parties on a plan to recover, rebuild and renew Ireland after the COVID-19 Emergency’. Our professional body of 25,000 engineers agrees that a phase of rebuilding will be needed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 Emergency and the overriding focus should be to improve the wellbeing of our people and society.

Engineers play a pivotal role in public health, sustainability and innovation. Engineers Ireland is committed to channelling the expertise of its professional engineering membership in finding practical and cost-effective solutions to the significant societal challenges we face.

The Fianna Fáil – Fine Gael policy framework for the new Government sets out ten missions and Engineers Ireland is offering solutions to help Ireland recover and rebuild under five of the missions: Reigniting and Renewing the Economy; Housing for All; A New Green Deal; A Better Quality of Life for All; and Opportunities through Education and Research. (Scroll down for more information).

Engineers Ireland is calling for capital investment to be at the centre of a new National Economic Plan to stimulate the economy, create jobs and deliver vital social, environmental and economic infrastructure. Investment in infrastructure enhances efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. Infrastructure also underpins social cohesion through providing vital facilities for citizens, such as public transport and broadband, and helps to overcome the challenges we face in health, climate action, housing, demographics and digitalisation.

Housing remains one of Ireland’s major challenges. While home completions have increased in recent years, the level is still far below the estimated level of housing demand based on demographic trends. The Land Development Agency should be given a strong policy and legislative mandate and resources to actively manage State-owned land. Engineers Ireland stands ready to do our part through the introduction of new technologies, increasing capacity in the construction sector and developing building standards to serve the country into the future.

Climate action must also remain in focus. The Climate Action Plan should be implemented, as a minimum, and critical enablers should be put in places to decarbonising energy, electric vehicle adoption and domestic deep energy retrofitting. Other priorities for Engineers Ireland are the re-engineering of towns and cities for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians, ensuring safe and secure water and wastewater services, and flood risk management.

For Ireland to be a world-leader in education and research will require higher levels of resourcing to ensure the learning experience of our students and the reputation of our graduates and institutions is not undermined. For example, there is a particular shortage of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) skills, which are vital to achieving a knowledge-based, sustainable future for Ireland. A sustainable funding model for higher education is urgently needed, including core funding, programmatic funding, research infrastructure and industry-academic collaboration.

The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the potential for technology-enabled remote working. However, the crisis has also demonstrated the importance of broadband connectivity, high-tech employment and digital skills which unfortunately many of our citizens lack. The National Broadband Plan, effective regional development and lifelong learning offer major opportunities to improve quality of life, the economy and environment.

Engineers’ solutions to help Ireland to recover and rebuild

Reigniting and renewing the economy

  • Develop a National Economic Plan centred on capital investment to stimulate the economy, create jobs and deliver vital social, environmental and economic infrastructure
  • Maintain the 4% GNI* (Modified Gross National Income) spending target
  • Ensure capital investment decisions remain tied to the National Planning Framework, drive decarbonisation and achieve value-for-money

Housing for all

  • Increase the supply of new homes by actively managing public land, giving the Land Development Agency a strong policy and legislative mandate and adequate resources
  • Implement a radical national retrofit strategy, providing clarity on financing and skills required
  • Reinforce the building regulations and standards to ensure high-quality homes and businesses

A New Green Deal

  • Implement the Climate Action Plan and progress the critical enablers for decarbonising energy, electric vehicle adoption and domestic deep energy retrofitting
  • Re-engineer our towns and cities for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians and invest in sustainable transport solutions that meet the needs of rural and urban communities
  • Meet our obligations under EU directives to efficiently supply adequate quantities of safe drinking water and ensure wastewater is adequately treated to protect the environment

Opportunities through education and research

  • Increase higher education funding per student and establish a sustainable funding model including core and programmatic funding, facilities investment and industry collaboration
  • Achieve the targets of the STEM Education Policy Statement such as a 40% increase in the number of girls taking Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Leaving Certificate subjects
  • Expand the number and variety of apprenticeships on offer

A better quality of life for all

  • Implement the National Broadband Plan and National Planning Framework to achieve effective regional development
  • Promote and invest in a culture of lifelong learning, including education and reskilling programmes on digital transformation
  • Develop a whole-of-Government plan for the revitalisation of existing towns and villages as attractive environments in which to live, work and shop