Mr. Brian O'Mahony:

That is dependent upon the competent authority which is the local authority responsible where that house is located. Typically full planning permission is not needed. It is necessary to go for derogation. In general this applies to areas where there may be conservation requirements on particular homes in those areas. The masters student is correct, it does vary depending on where the house is and upon the local requirements therein. In general, we have not come across challenges for people to do this but there are challenges where people say that red-brick homes around Dublin or some of the urban centres could be more of a challenge because the aesthetic is being changed, with a newer front compared with neighbouring houses.

The last Senator to speak mentioned Energiesprong. We are aware of that. That is suited to where there are homes of the exact same typology constructed together. We are going to be looking at that. We have previously worked closely with the local authorities in retrofitting homes and we think there is an opportunity for innovation in this sector going forward. The last couple of years have been focused on getting everything up and running and getting the programme moving but there will be opportunities for that type of approach and other approaches. We are aware of them. We are considering them in our future work programme.

I will answer this last question and if I have missed anything I will come back. There was a question regarding what if I do not put in a heat pump. Our programmes are focused on a B2 target. If you do shallow measures you do not have to get to the B2 target, so you go to a C3 or a G home I think was mentioned. That can happen and that homeowner may continue to use his or her oil or gas boiler. They will have captured the comfort benefits for themselves and the reduced energy costs and they will have a healthier home. However, as Ms McCarthy mentioned, we look at this as a whole throughout the State and our long-term goal is to decarbonise all of these homes for society. We are aware of that and that is why we want to put those homes on this pathway to B2 or zero emission homes as discussed in Fit for 55 and other European directives in which we are participating. We are cognisant of that but some of those homeowners may retain their existing heating appliance or if it is near end-of-life, they may replace it and there are going to be other solutions that we mentioned. There are going to be biofuels that could potentially be used. There are Irish companies looking at this sector as well. We do not see the solution being homogenous, that it will only be heat pumps for everybody. There will be solutions required depending on the home and the location.