Ms Colette Murphy:

Supports for colleges to retrofit old buildings would be really helpful. When new student accommodation or new campus buildings are being built, they should be state-of-the-art new buildings which are using the latest technology to ensure they are green and will not be leaving a massive carbon footprint. Buildings should be sustainable and fit for purpose for decades to come because we know the built environment is one of the biggest contributors to climate change in the world. Therefore, it is really important we are very mindful. Obviously, that is a factor which is factored from the very start when getting new contractors in etc.

There is a good example of student accommodation in UCD that was built using the passive house method. It is not emitting carbon into the atmosphere. Also, there is a sustainable building of student accommodation in Galway. It is possible for it to be done. There is an idea that it will be incredibly expensive and not possible, but there are plenty of people-----