Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 902 and 904 from Deputy Duffy seek to add reference to the "whole life carbon impact" of developments. As previously noted, with respect to whole-life carbon emissions, this is a complex area that is, from a data point of view, at an early stage of development, particularly when this is applied to a complex area such as the built environment. For example, matters not directly related to plan making such as the type of building material, its source, etc., would be required for whole-life carbon emissions to be calculated. Furthermore, issues such as the baseline for measurement are not fully defined.

However, we recognise the need to reduce carbon emissions. Development plan policy is one that takes a series of legitimate but disparate inputs that create a framework for that, promote sustainable development and take measures to reduce our carbon emissions, such as promoting compact urban growth. In view of this, I consider that the Bill as drafted is reasonable, balanced and sets a framework to proactively reduce our carbon emissions.