First Wave: February – August 2020

Shutdown in construction activity from 28th March until 17th May 2020 (inclusive)

Total: 7 weeks

References:

Second Wave: August – December 2020

No shutdown.

Construction (and schools) remained open under Level 5 restrictions between 21st October 2020 and 1st December.

Third Wave: December 2020 – Present

Shutdown in construction activity from 6pm on Friday 8th January until 11th April 2021 (inclusive). Includes the phased reopening of schools and childcare.

From 12 April, all RESIDENTIAL construction can restart as well as early-learning and childcare projects.

Total: 13 weeks

From 4 May – Full reopening of construction activity.

References:

Measures (as per 6th April 2021) available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/

Current measures (as per 2nd June 2021) available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/7894b-post-cabinet-statement-resilience-and-recovery-the-path-ahead/

During shutdown construction was closed, with the following exceptions:

  • essential health and related projects including those relevant to preventing, limiting, minimising or slowing the spread of COVID-19
  • social housing projects, including voids, designated as essential sites by Local Authorities based on set criteria
  • housing adaptation grants where the homeowner is agreeable to adaptions being undertaken in their home
  • repair, maintenance and construction of critical transport and utility infrastructure
  • education facilities sites designated as essential by Department of Education
  • supply and delivery of essential or emergency maintenance and repair services to businesses and places of residence (including electrical, gas, oil, plumbing, glazing and roofing services) on an emergency call-out basis
  • certain large construction projects in the exporting / FDI sector based on set criteria
  • in relation to private homes that are practically complete and scheduled for habitation by 31 January 2021, including where snagging, and essential remediation work, such as pyrite works is nearing completion, works should continue to enable homeowners access their homes. Heating, water, broadband and electricity installation should also continue to enable homes be occupied
  • existing tenancy protections mean that a tenant cannot be evicted from their home during the period of the 5km travel restrictions. To enable a limited functioning of the housing and residential tenancy market during this time it has also been agreed that online viewings will be the default approach to viewing property for rental or sale, with a physical viewing only permissible at the point where a tenancy agreement is being entered into or where a contract for sale has been drawn up. This approach balances the need to avoid social interaction with the need to provide a pathway to tenancy and home ownership for those who need it

This page was last edited on 2nd June 2021.

This document was prepared by Isabel Barros Architects.

Image: Construction Vectors by Vecteezy