Cork chair of construction federation says industry needs more women

The new chair of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Cork branch has highlighted the need for more women to consider careers in the sector.

Speaking at the organisation’s annual dinner at the Fota Island Resort, Patsy Supple said construction in Ireland is facing many challenges as delivery of projects, particularly in housing, need to be scaled up to meet the needs of the country.

Ms Supple said the recruitment of young women remains one of the greatest untapped resources of potential in the construction sector.

“If we ever think construction might not be a suitable career for women, then perhaps it is time for all of us to ask what changes we need to make to ensure that it is.

“I would ask everyone in this room, whether you are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or mentors, to encourage the young people in your lives to consider careers in this sector.”

Significant investment 

On the topic of construction in Cork city, Ms Supple said there is evidence of significant investment in housing, infrastructure and the public realm, as Cork continues to grow as a place to live and work.

However she noted that despite the best efforts of the sector, there is still a long way to go to meet the target of 50,000 homes to be built per year.

Ms Supple outlined that one of the biggest challenges facing the construction sector is the duration of time it takes to get projects started.

“A small housing scheme can take five years from the moment a site is purchased to the moment the homes are delivered. For larger projects , whether it is housing, a school, hospital, or road project, that timeline can easily stretch to 10 years or more before construction even begins.

“If we are truly going to address Ireland’s housing and infrastructure challenges, we must look closely at how we reduce unnecessary delays before projects even reach the site stage,” she said.

“Our industry is ready to build. The skills, expertise and commitment are all there.

“But real progress requires genuine partnership between all stakeholders so that we can align our processes, streamline timelines and ultimately deliver projects more efficiently for the benefit of the entire country.”

Ms Supple was speaking at her first engagement since being appointed the new chair of the Cork branch of the CIF.