Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to be here again this year to address the House during the annual transition statements and to focus on our actions on climate change and what we are doing to deal with decarbonising our economy, our country and our development, as well as setting this country on a strong footing for many years ahead. What the Government and the Dáil are involved in is the sustainable management of our country, economy, society and communities to ensure we are dealing with all the issues before us. One of the most important is climate change, climate action and adapting to that.

I am glad I had the chance today to listen to much of the debate earlier. This is my third or fourth year participating in these statements on behalf of my Department and the debate has changed a great deal over the last couple of years. One can see in the strength of the discussions today the recognition that this issue is important. Deputies on all sides have taken on much greater responsibility in trying to tackle this and to focus on the plans to see what we are doing, whether we are implementing them correctly, whether we are making progress and how can we update and add to the plans. I am glad to have that good policy debate today. As we are in the process of forming a new Government there will be a lot more change in this area with positive developments to come.

There was some criticism of the concept of having plans. To be clear, the idea that one must have climate action plans, housing plans, jobs plans and recovery plans from Covid-19 is that they are the business case to secure taxpayers' investment in strategy and in actions. This morning the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, discussed actions and implementing actions. It is important that we put those plans in place but also that we are prepared to change and add to them and implement new actions in them as we go along. That is number one. Number two, we must be prepared to scrutinise our plans. This is part of what we are doing today. We come here to have our plan scrutinised and to explain to Members, as Ministers in the Departments, what we are doing and what we hope to do. Members can scrutinise that and I am glad there are questions and answers on this today, unlike in other years. It is an important development. It is important that we monitor the plans, follow them and implement them action by action. I have seen the success of that approach with the Action Plan for Jobs a number of years ago, the housing action plan, the rural action plan and now the climate plan. It is important that we do that and follow it page by page, action by action and make the necessary change and adaptation while investing taxpayers' money wisely along the way.

Another part of the conversation is that as we try to tackle climate change and make changes some of the debate today referred to the fears for rural Ireland. I wish to make a point because I have often listened to the debate about planning, rural planning and one-off housing. Everybody here thinks one must have a one-off house to live in rural Ireland, but most people outside the House recognise that this is not the case. Yes, living in rural Ireland means living in a one-off house where it is suitable and right, or in a converted house or in an old cottage brought back into use, but it also means living in a rural village, be it on the edge of the village or on brown field sites in the middle of it or in streets that are left derelict for many years, or living in towns. To drive rural Ireland there must be a purpose or function to live there. One must be able to get a job locally and be able to work in the economy. One must be able to go to school. It involves education, health and so forth. It is not just about housing. Yes, rural housing is a very important part of it and we are focused on that and where appropriate it is fine.

However, when we discuss climate change in rural Ireland, our job is not to scare people. It should not be about that in this House. It should be to represent rural Ireland and to ensure that we protect all that is part of rural Ireland and bring people with us on that journey. As legislators we must ensure that the opportunities with climate change are shared by everybody so people in both rural and urban areas can benefit from them. There are many opportunities, but sometimes the debate in this House tries to scare people. That is unfair. That is not what climate action is about and it certainly is not in our plans. I am anxious to make that point. I listened to it a great deal during the national planning framework discussion and it arose in some of the debate today. That is not what we are trying to achieve here. It is an unfair portrayal of the Government's plans and, in fairness, of most parties' plans. Individuals never leave behind an opportunity to try to scare people, but that is not what we are doing at all.

Again, I am delighted to be here for this process. I re-affirm my Department's commitment to working collaboratively with colleagues across the Government so we can collectively and successfully deliver and implement critical climate mitigation and adaptation actions and measures. We have set ambitious plans for the decarbonisation of our built environment. These form an integral part of the climate action plan and we are driving a range of actions in planning, marine planning, housing and building regulations. Project Ireland 2040, which we launched in February 2018, is the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. It includes a detailed capital investment plan for the period to 2027 - the €116 billion national development plan for taxpayers' money in support of a long-term transformational spatial strategy, which is the national planning framework. All Members of the House need to buy into that long-term planning and thinking. Most do. During the discussion on the national planning framework in the House the majority bought into it and accepted it. Of course, people want reviews and changes. That is fine. However, we must remember the concept of long-term planning across all Departments.

The lined and shared vision of the national planning framework, in tandem with the national development plan, is a joined-up planning and investment strategy focused on a series of shared national outcomes. Foremost among these is climate action, along with the national objective to transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient society by 2050. A policy which will assist in making that transition and meeting our climate obligations is woven throughout the national planning framework and the national development plan.

Shared outcomes, reflected in both documents, which are fundamentally supportive of climate action include compact growth, sustainable mobility, a sustainable management of water, waste and other environmental resources. These all include significant elements of policy that provide a strong platform for the development of measures and actions in response to climate change. The overall national planning framework strategy seeks to achieve a better balance of development between the regions, a greater focus on cities, supporting the rural fabric and targeting more compact growth in the development of settlements of all sizes, be that a village, a town or a city, from the largest city to the smallest village.

Wind energy guidelines came up in last year's and this year's discussion. The Department is undertaking a review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines. Thankfully, since the last time we had this debate, we have had a public consultation. The review aims to address several key aspects including sound, noise, visual amenity, set-back distances, shadow flicker, community obligation and dividend, as well as grid connections. We are working through all the submissions to the public consultation process. Hopefully, we will be in a position to finalise those guidelines before the end of the year by making changes to section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

Solar guidelines and exemptions are often raised. Draft amendments proposed to the current planning exemptions have been substantially completed. Those changes did not go as quickly as I hoped. We have a number of exemptions ready, however. We have worked in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to progress and finalise those outstanding matters. Once they are finalised, the Department will engage the legislative process, subject to Oireachtas approval, along with environmental report and considerations. The housing committee did much work when it came to exemptions and helped us fast-track some when they were of benefit to everybody.

Last year, I launched a public consultation on the national marine planning framework, which aims to give priority to key national policies in terms of renewable energy ambitions. The general scheme of the marine planning and development management Bill, which will provide the legal basis for the marine planning system, was published in December. It is currently under review with a view to publication later this year. Some Members wanted it to go to the relevant committee in January or February. Hopefully, we will get that back on track and get it through the Houses whenever we form a Government and get the committee system up and running.

Approximately 40% of total energy produced is used in the building sector. The energy performance of buildings directive sets ambitious goals for energy efficiency and renewables in buildings by requiring nearly zero energy building, NZEB, performance for new buildings from 31 December 2020. In addition, the directive also requires energy performance requirements for major renovations to existing buildings are completed to a cost optimal level, which is a B2 building energy rating or equivalent where feasible.

The implementation of the NZEB is a key action for the built environment and will contribute to Ireland's national low-carbon transition and mitigation plan. The legislation is now in place and will contribute to emissions reductions from new dwellings commencing from 1 November 2019. This legislation also effectively phases out the installation of oil boilers in new dwellings.

A new element of the revised energy performance of buildings directive is the provision of infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles. Lack of recharging infrastructure is seen as a barrier to the take-up of electric vehicles in the EU. The revised directive has new provisions which aim to accelerate deployment. It is an issue that has been raised with me by many Members over the years. These regulations will require infrastructure to facilitate the future installation of electric vehicle charging points in all new dwellings with a car parking space within the site boundary. A public consultation regarding these draft regulations has taken place and it will be published later this year.

On social housing, local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of the Department, on the least energy efficient social housing units. The programme has two phases. Phase 1 focuses on the lower cost improvements such as cavity wall and attic insulation. Phase 2 targets higher cost, deeper retrofit measures such as, for example, fabric upgrades and renewable energy resources including heat pumps etc. Since 2013, funding of €151 million has been provided to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in over 72,000 local authority homes, benefiting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland's carbon emissions reduction targets for 2020.

I can discuss the retrofit programme during the question and answer session.

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