Ireland is facing a looming shortage of essential construction materials such as stone, sand, and gravel, which could jeopardise the Government’s housing targets and critical infrastructure projects, according to the Irish Concrete Federation (ICF).
The warning comes on the back of a new report commissioned by the ICF and prepared by engineering consultancy firm RPS. The study found that quarries are replenishing resources at only 61% of the rate at which materials are being consumed, raising alarms about the sustainability of supply in the coming years.
In particular, the report highlights a troubling pattern in the Greater Dublin Area, where over half of the proposed extraction volumes for key aggregates between 2017 and 2023 were denied planning permission. It also noted extensive delays in securing approvals for new or extended quarry operations.
According to the report, planning appeals involving aggregate materials in 2023 took an average of 146 weeks—nearly three years—to resolve. This is nearly five times longer than the statutory objective period, raising concerns about the responsiveness of the planning system to future demand.
The report calls for urgent government intervention in the form of a National Policy Statement to secure long-term supplies of aggregate materials. It recommends that the Irish Government formally recognise stone, sand, and gravel as “strategic national resources” vital for development and societal needs.
“A typical three-bedroom semi-detached home requires about 300 tonnes of aggregates,” the report states. “As reserves in the Greater Dublin Area are depleted, the industry will increasingly need to haul materials over longer distances, leading to higher costs, more fuel consumption, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.”
The shortage could place significant pressure on the Government’s plans to ramp up housing delivery and invest in transport and climate-resilient infrastructure.
However, environmental groups are pushing back on the call for policy prioritisation. OisĂn Coghlan, a spokesperson for the Environmental Pillar, stressed the importance of sustainable practices.
“There is a new planning regulator, An Coimisiún Pleanála, and no industry should be given special treatment,” Coghlan said. “The focus needs to be on reducing concrete use per square metre, increasing efficiency, and adopting more recycled materials—areas where Ireland is still lagging.”
As the debate continues, the report underscores a growing tension between the need for rapid development and the long-term sustainability of Ireland’s natural resources.
