Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Upgrading our homes, offices and public buildings to ensure that they use less energy will be one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions and limit climate change. The OPW, with its property portfolio of approximately 2,500 buildings, including more than 200 large Government and State agency buildings, must lead the way in this regard. While it is important that energy-efficient design be incorporated into all public sector projects from the early design stage onwards, we should also ensure that we upgrade and reuse existing public buildings in preference to new-build construction where possible. Through OPW refurbishment projects, the Government can ensure that it plays a consistent and exemplary role in driving the energy efficiency agenda.

Under action 62 of Climate Action Plan 2019, the OPW was to take the lead in examining how and when fossil fuel heating systems could be phased out of public buildings, including disallowing the installation of any new fossil fuel heating systems. This examination was due to have been completed by the end of 2019 but I see no update on this action in the first climate action plan progress report issued in October 2019. Can the Minister confirm that the action has been completed and provide some detail on the outcome?

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