Mr. Seán Armstrong:

A typical dwelling built under current regulations will produce approximately 800 kg of carbon per year, whereas a typical dwelling in the existing housing stock would produce approximately 5 tonnes of carbon per year.

While there is an opportunity to phase out fossil fuel boilers in new stock, the reduction in emissions achieved is much smaller than would be achieved in the existing housing stock. As I said previously, gas boilers with PV have the same net emissions as a heat pump installed. The technical guidance document is providing more detailed information about how apartments can comply. We are seeing many heat-pump proposals coming through for apartments.

On the removal or replacement of gas boilers, an important point is to have installed advanced insulation requirements in these new dwellings. Advancing the insulation is a good facilitator for the installation of heat pumps at a later stage.

The Deputy asked about solar panel exemptions. The planning regulations already provide for an exemption for solar panels of up to 12 sq. m on dwellings. Through the work we are doing on the all-of-Government action plan, we recognise that the 12 sq. m exemption limit needs to be increased, especially with the new grant scheme from the SEAI. The planning division in our Department has recognised this and is planning on reviewing that planning exemption by the end of this year.