State construction company would cut cost of building a home by 200,000, says People Before Profit

Mr Boyd Barrett emphasized the urgent need for building 35,000 new social and affordable homes annually, highlighting a proposed budget of €3 billion funded by Apple Tax revenue.

He explained that the establishment of a state construction company could significantly reduce building costs by eliminating profit motives and incorporating economies of scale, potentially lowering expenses by up to €200,000 per unit.

Mr Boyd Barrett underscored the importance of increasing apprenticeship rates to successfully staff the new company, noting that poor pay had led to the dropout of 3,500 apprentices over three years.

He expressed a commitment to attract young people into apprenticeships by improving pay conditions, as part of the broader initiative to boost workforce numbers for the construction sector.

Read at Irish Independent