Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed the publication of the Timber in Construction Steering Group’s final report, released on 9 June 2026. The report presents seven strategic recommendations designed to increase the use of timber in construction across the country, spanning areas including regulation, procurement, carbon policy, innovation, training, and adoption in the built environment.
The recommendations are organised under three interconnected pillars: Regulation and Standards; Procurement and Carbon Policy; and Innovation, Training and Adoption. The report also references specific implementation deadlines and identifies lead government departments responsible for coordinating potential adoption across relevant ministries and agencies.
The Timber in Construction Steering Group was formally established in November 2023 for a two-year term. The group drew together members from 64 institutions and organisations, including a ministerially appointed steering group of 16 members and an independent chair. In total, the steering group and its five thematic working groups convened 15 times over the course of the term. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine served as the secretariat throughout the process, while stakeholders contributed both technical expertise and policy input.
The report noted that Ireland’s forest cover currently stands at 11.6% of total land area, with softwood species accounting for almost 70% of the stocked area. On the supply side, roundwood supply is forecast to grow from 5 million cubic metres at present to nearly 7.8 million cubic metres by 2035, providing a strengthened domestic material base for timber construction Ireland.
In terms of historic investment, the report recalled that over €3 billion has been committed to establishing the country’s forest resource since the 1980s, while more than €1.3 billion has been allocated to the Forestry Programme for the period 2023 to 2027.
Ireland’s Forest Strategy envisions Irish-grown timber becoming the primary material used in new homes by 2050. To support that trajectory, the report highlighted Modern Methods of Construction and longer-life timber products as key pathways toward a lower-carbon built environment. These approaches are positioned within the broader context of carbon policy objectives tied to the construction sector.
Relevant government departments and agencies are now expected to examine the report’s seven recommendations and put in place measures to assess their potential for adoption. The timber in construction agenda, as outlined in the report, reflects a coordinated national effort bringing together forestry, construction, policy, and innovation stakeholders under a common framework.
