Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 2 July 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Circular Economy as it relates to Construction Sector: Discussion

11:00 am

Mr. Hubert Fitzpatrick:

We need to reduce our emissions. One of the key objectives of the federation is to support members in reducing their emissions. That is why the carbon calculator has been launched across the industry.

I referred to demolition earlier. We have to be able to support demolition in the context of any planning application going forward so that it is more sustainable. We look at whether the more sustainable option is to demolish or to renovate. As Mr. Stapleton pointed out, the question of profitability arises here. I would use the word "viability" because if a project is not viable, it will not start. The land will lie idle and the development simply will not take place without that viability issue being addressed.