Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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If it is okay, I will deal with that first before moving on to Traveller accommodation and planning.

Deputies O’Callaghan and Ó Broin are correct about the need to consider reducing embodied carbon in our built environment. The point about the demolition of buildings was well made. Across Dublin, we routinely see perfectly good buildings that were built in the 1940s or 1950s and could be repurposed being demolished, with the construction and demolition waste probably ending up in landfill. Our waste management legislation is also important in this regard. I recall being involved 20 years ago when we were looking at mobile crushers taking C and D waste and using it for road aggregate. It is important that C and D waste be repurposed and reused. Primarily, though, the building should not be knocked in the first place if it still has a function. That is the role of planning authorities within development plans. Our Department launched a good architectural policy close on two years ago. It supports the repurpose and reuse of buildings. This is significant.

The other element is procurement policy.

That is being worked on by the Government. Deputy Ó Broin mentioned the difference between Portland cement and GGBS cement. I anticipate that the procurement policy will direct local authorities to support applications that specify the use of GGBS cement or low-carbon cement. At some point, it should become a default but it is probably not as widely available as it should be. Those are important. It is also critical to note that building materials are not necessarily a planning matter for the purposes of this Bill. The Deputy would probably challenge that but, looking at the recommendations in his own committee's excellent report on embodied carbon in the built environment, many of them look to regulations to address the issues he is talking about. Recommendation No. 12 "recommends that the Department consider introducing embodied-carbon focused regulations in the planning system". Regulations may be the most appropriate way to deal with this, rather than in this overarching Bill. There is no doubt that it is a multifaceted issue and must be addressed through procurement policy, as I have said, but also through good design guidelines and ensuring the repurposing of materials and of buildings. That is very important. The use of low-carbon materials and sustainably sourced timber can be addressed through procurement policy. Again, looking at the report, there are many really excellent recommendations, none of which really call on this Bill to address issues. They cover a lot of interaction with other Departments and look at regulations as a means of addressing issues. I am happy to respond to any other queries in that regard.

I have information on the recommendations regarding category B, planning, from the report on Traveller accommodation in tabular form, which may be of use to members. Some of the recommendations are completed and others are ongoing. Some will form part of a future work programme. If it is of use, I can provide that to the members. Again, it is a very important and significant area as regards the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation. I note that significant improvements have been made in respect of local authority spend, the drawdown of funding and Traveller accommodation committees at local authority level. The work of those committees in the delivery of housing and supports for Traveller families has improved significantly over recent years.