Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for a comprehensive opening statement, which I and colleagues certainly appreciate. I invite members to indicate to ask questions and I will start with a question of my own.

The Minister touched on the embodied carbon piece. In this committee, we have talked about this before and I acknowledge the measures that are in the climate action plan. What I do not see are measures to begin to account for and value embodied carbon in the existing building stock. I note that other countries are going in that direction. I certainly think there is a glide path for this over the next few decades and it is something we need to be starting on. I acknowledge that European regulation is coming as well. Are moves being made within the Department to begin to set up a system of accounting for and reporting embodied carbon in the existing housing stock and then, additionally, somewhat down the line, putting a value on the embodied carbon such that we might tilt some of the construction activity towards renovation, demolition and new build?