Ireland facing sand and gravel shortage due to planning delays, industry warns

The Irish Concrete Federation warns critical housing and infrastructure projects could face major delays unless quarry planning accelerates

The report states that projects like the Cork Docklands will require 1.1 million tonnes of aggregate over the lifetime of its redevelopment.

Ireland will need more than a billion tonnes of crushed rock, sand and gravel by 2040 to complete housing and infrastructure projects but planning delays and refusals could result in critical shortages the State's concrete industry has warned.

A report published this week states that just 61% of the annual consumption of aggregates is currently being replenished by means of new planning authorisations.