Construction & Engineering

PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS

Corrections to public works contract documents

The Office of Government Procurement published corrections to the Public Works Contracts and Invitations to Tender, available here.

Whole life costs

The Office of Government Procurement published Cost Control Templates incorporating the International Cost Management Standard 3 for a range of project types. Use in contracts going to tender is currently optional but use will become mandatory for projects commencing Stage (i) of the Capital Works Management Framework in January 2024.

BUILDING REGULATIONS

Technical Guidance Document C

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage updated Technical Guidance Document C (Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture) to the Building Regulations. The guidance concerns reasonable precautions for avoiding danger to health and safety caused by substances (including radon) found on or in the ground to be covered by a building. The Department states that this updated guidance applies to all new buildings and extensions commencing construction from 1 October 2023. The version dated 1997 and amended in 2020 ceases to have effect from 1 October 2023 but may continue to be used in the case of works commenced on or before 30 September 2023.

INVESTMENT

Screening of Third Country Transactions

The Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 has been signed into law. (It is not yet on the statute book but the final form as passed by Dáil Éireann is available here.) The Act provides for review of certain transactions involving foreign investment that may impact on security or public order. It applies to certain transactions in several areas, one of which is critical infrastructure, including energy, transport, water, health, communications, media, data processing or storage, aerospace, defence, electoral or financial infrastructure and sensitive facilities, including the land/real estate used crucial for the use of such infrastructure. Our recent briefing on the Bill is available here.

Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund

The Government is establishing a Fund with the aim of providing for resources for capital spending in any future downturn. Further information is available here.