AQW 47232/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 28/05/2026
Answered On Date: 18/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he will consider making swift bricks mandatory on any new build capital projects under his Department's remit.

Answer:

Not all new healthcare buildings will be suitable for the provision of swift bricks however several ecological and biodiversity measures such as this will be considered during the design process and implemented where applicable.

My Department uses BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) as the sustainability and environmental assessment method for new build capital projects. BREEAM covers 10 core sustainability categories including biodiversity and ecology which allows balancing of different measures to achieve an efficient and an effective outcome on different building types or locations.

Significant new build projects are required to meet the ‘Excellent’ standard.