Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 10 July 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Housing and Retrofitting: Discussion

Mr. David Flannery:

We certainly experience that with our programmes. There is a lack of qualified engineers and associated training programmes. One might look to the Austrian model, which has been very successful in reducing carbon emissions by more than 45%. Austrian plumbers have to train in renewable technologies. More concerted market intervention is probably needed. It is worth remembering that we are in a construction boom but we are also in a declared climate emergency. With carbon tax signals and a likely increase in the price of fuel down the line, the signals are suggesting a diversion from the addition of a sun room or converting the attic to investing in home retrofitting. There will be a movement of skills and labour to more important things.

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