Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late. I was in the Dáil Chamber. For some strange reason, questions to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government were scheduled for the same time as this meeting. The committee can do nothing about that.

Two energy saving schemes are in place at present. There is a problem in how they are being policed. A grant of €200 is available to insulate an attic and of €250 to insulate the walls of a terraced house. These grants are not adequate and are not having the desired effect. Could Mr. Tom Halpin or someone from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland reply to this query? When I speak of policing I am referring to work being checked when finished. Constituents of mine have had work done under the scheme where pipes have been run up the outside wall of a house to a tank in the attic inside a metal frame with no insulation. The first time the temperature falls below zero the pipes burst in the attic. A question hangs over the type of work being done and the contractors on the approved list. Overall, however, the schemes have brought benefits. Many houses are much warmer because of them.

What level of engagement has there been with financial institutions to persuade them to free up money for retrofits? Credit unions could be useful in this respect because a relatively small amount of money is required. Many of the houses that are in need of energy upgrades are old terraced houses, council houses or privately built bungalows which are occupied by people on low and middle incomes. Has any work been done with credit unions? Credit unions tell public representatives they are anxious to help initiatives such as this.

The party I represent put forward proposals for a ten-year scheme that utility companies could buy into. Has work been done with utility companies on such a scheme? Let us suppose it costs €150 a month to heat my house but it would cost only €100 if it were insulated properly. If I have my house retrofitted, I could continue, for ten years, to pay a utility bill of €150 and €50 of that could be repayment of the cost of retrofitting. Some pension funds are interested in schemes like that. Has any such work been done with pension funds on such schemes? Figures released recently indicate that €89 billion are held in savings and €80 billion in pension funds. Could some of that be tapped into to get housing stock up to an acceptable standard?

Why is the Department allowing apartments to be built that are separated by plaster slabs? I have heard all the technical jargon and I have even seen diagrams sent from the Department that claim to show this is safe. I have heard regulations on the Continent being quoted. I have not travelled much but when I do I look at these things and I have seen how apartments are built. In other countries, apartments are separated by concrete under, over, beside, in front and behind. Floors, ceilings and walls are made of concrete. This means they are soundproof and fireproof and residents have a level of privacy. In the town I live in, two neighbours had a row and one neighbour put his boot through the wall separating the other neighbour's apartment from the staircase. The wall separating the apartment from the staircase was made of plaster slabs. I have discussed this with officials of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

I have had enough of listening to the argument that this is acceptable. I have seen the diagrams showing how fire would go around plaster slabs. This is a case of bolting the stable door when the horse has gone; these rubbish apartments have been built and they have been allowed to be built. Why are plaster slabs between apartments permitted?

I was canvassing in an apartment block. I was at one end of the block and I could hear a radio playing in an apartment at the other end. I canvassed all the ten doors on the corridor and the radio could be heard. When the door was opened by the resident in the final apartment, the radio in her apartment was no louder when she opened the door. We could hear Pat Kenny's show. Why are we condemning people to live in such conditions? They are separated from their neighbours by one or two plaster slabs. The argument is that the plaster slabs are of high quality and are fire-proof. In my view, people must have a bit of privacy. Plaster slabs with timber frames between them will not stop fires from spreading. These fire hazards are being built. I have challenged this practice at every opportunity. When will the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government do something about it? If legislation is required then let us know so that we can take measures. No more apartments should be built in this State using that type of material. People are entitled to privacy, security and fire safety. The example of Priory Hall has been raised. That is a scandalous situation.