Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 June 2020

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed)

 

6:40 pm

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While the retrofitting of homes has accelerated in recent years, there have been some hiccups along the way. Last year, for instance, hundreds of thousands of homeowners who had entered into contracts to have such work done were left in limbo as funding was withdrawn. Thankfully this was resolved and most of those homes are now completed.

As Deputy Darragh O'Brien has said, we have a very ambitious target set down of 500,000 homes to retrofit. This involves carrying out multiple energy-efficient measures such as wall and attic insulation, replacing windows and doors etc. The framework document published by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, which forms the basis of the ongoing Government formation talks, lists it as a priority whereby the proposed Government will "Roll out an ambitious home energy retrofitting programme". It is vital that this commences at the earliest opportunity once the Government takes office. Applications must be open to the public as soon as possible. The providing companies must be made aware of the Government's intention in order that they can prepare and stock up on the materials that are not lost. As for apprenticeships, which were also referred to earlier, how many will be needed to do this work? The national apprenticeship centre is located in Thurles and places need to be provided there immediately in order that we will have the workforce that is needed when this work comes on track. In my constituency of Tipperary, the Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative was doing excellent work on a shoestring budget. Therefore, achieving ambitious targets in this area will require good planning, speed and extensive funding.

As for planning and how it has an impact on the reduction of carbon emissions, planning guidelines must take into account the huge differences between high-density urban populations and smaller provincial towns. We cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach. For instance, it makes sense to have very high-density housing and apartment buildings in major urban centres but it makes no sense in towns across rural Ireland. Such towns need realistic density levels that match the profile of the town and are attractive for the market to build and affordable for families to buy. We also must have housing provided for those who want to live in the community where they were born and perhaps to commute by public transport to an urban centre for work. This surely makes sense as it would reduce the carbon footprint, would maintain the life of rural towns and would not herd the population into Dublin. There was a specific case this week where Iarnród Éireann took the daily 17:05 service from Heuston Station to Thurles off the timetable. Hundreds of people from mid-Tipperary are commuting daily to Dublin for work or if not daily, then two or three times per week. Their housing needs are provided where they are born in their own town or village.

They are using public transport, reducing their carbon footprint and not clogging the already congested city of Dublin, and then Iarnród Éireann decides to take away one of the daily trains. Surely this does not make sense in the current climate.

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