Ireland’s capital project pipeline is expanding rapidly, yet the ability to deliver major infrastructure with certainty is becoming increasingly difficult. CPAC Modular, Ireland’s leading offsite construction specialist, says modern methods of construction (MMC) now offer one of the most effective ways for public buyers to reduce risk, secure cost certainty and accelerate delivery.

Speaking at this year’s National Construction Summit, CPAC Modular highlighted the widening gap between Ireland’s ambitions and the capacity of traditional construction to meet them. With 40% fewer people working in construction than two decades ago, rising demand across housing, education and healthcare, and legally binding sustainability targets, the company says the traditional model is struggling to keep pace. “The challenge isn’t what we want to build — it’s how we build it with certainty,” said Gavin Fox, Head of Business Development for CPAC Modular.

MMC, where buildings are produced in controlled factory environments and assembled onsite, is now growing globally at twice the rate of traditional construction. By manufacturing building components to around 85% completion before they reach site, MMC removes many of the variables that typically drive delays and cost overruns. This approach enables parallel processing, where site preparation and building manufacture happen simultaneously, cutting programme durations by up to half. The result is faster delivery of schools, healthcare facilities and homes, with significantly less disruption on live sites.

CPAC Modular completed Ireland’s first permanent modular school, a 3,600 sq m, 24‑classroom project, last year, ahead of schedule and on budget.  This project showcases the reliability and predictability of the MMC model. MMC also provides earlier and more transparent pricing structures, giving public buyers cost certainty far earlier in the project lifecycle. With reduced time onsite, lower preliminary costs and fewer weather‑related or labour‑related risks, MMC offers a more stable commercial pathway.

Labour shortages remain one of the most pressing constraints on Ireland’s infrastructure delivery. MMC reduces onsite labour requirements by up to 70%, enabling more projects to be delivered with fewer people. It also supports national sustainability goals by virtually eliminating onsite waste, reducing environmental impact through shorter site durations, and cutting vehicle movements to and from construction sites.

Fox argues that “MMC delivers a combination of programme certainty, cost certainty, higher quality through factory‑controlled production, reduced dependency on scarce labour and stronger alignment with ESG and net‑zero targets. If we are to keep up with demand, we need to change how we build. That means engaging earlier with the market, assessing submissions on overall commercial value rather than lowest cost, and embracing methods that reduce risk, accelerate delivery and protect public value. That mindset shift is where better outcomes begin.”