RIAI Statement on Delivery of Capital Projects during COVID-19

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) welcomes the measures announced by the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform to protect the delivery of capital projects committed to under Project Ireland 2040.

It is essential that the feasibility, design and planning stages of essential infrastructural projects continue to be commissioned. This will allow architects and other construction professions to keep working, to maintain staff in employment and ensure that there are projects ready to proceed to site when the crisis is over.

The RIAI is keen to avoid the experience following the recent recession when the construction sector was decimated and took a long time to recover. If we do not plan for the end of this crisis, there will be an unnecessary time lag in bringing projects forward while teams are reassembled, and projects are initiated. This lack of momentum would further damage the economy and have a negative impact on the wider recovery.

The Minister’s Statement can be read here.