Dáil debates
Thursday, 15 February 2024
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
Renewable Energy Generation
11:50 am
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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71. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the decarbonisation of the social housing stock; what progress has been made to retrofit the social housing stock; if there are plans to establish a dedicated programme to install solar PV on the social housing stock; what engagement has his Department had with industry in order to decarbonise the social housing stock most quickly and effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6829/24]
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Can the Minister of State report on the decarbonisation of the social housing stock? What progress has been made to retrofit the social housing stock? Are there plans to establish a dedicated programme to install solar PV on the social housing stock? What engagement has the Department had with industry in order to decarbonise the social housing stock most quickly and effectively?
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Under the climate action plan, the retrofit target for local authority owned homes is to retrofit 36,500 to BER B2 or cost optimal equivalent by 2030. As part of this new scheme over the period 2021 to 2023, 5,766 local authority homes have been retrofitted to B2 cost optimal equivalent. Furthermore, retrofit works were completed on over 74,000 local authority-owned dwelling since 2013 to the end of 2021 under the previous scheme.
As a result of the advanced performance requirements of building regulations, it is estimated that approximately 40,000 local authority dwellings have been constructed to a typical A or B rating since 2008. Taking account of new housing delivered by local authorities and the energy efficiency retrofit programme, it is expected that approximately 70% of local authority housing will have a typical BER of A or B by 2030.
In line with Government and EU policy, an efficiency first approach is adopted for local authority retrofit programmes. Fabric measures and efficient renewable heat pumps systems are supported by the energy efficiency retrofit programme to achieve a BER of B2 or cost optimal level. Fossil fuel boilers are not supported by the energy efficiency retrofit programme and have been effectively phased out in new dwellings.
My Department does provide funding for PV panels in limited circumstances. Furthermore, the draft energy performance building directive recently agreed by the EU institutions requires that in their national building renovation plans, member states shall include policies and measures with regard to the deployment of suitable solar energy installations on all buildings. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and our own Department are commencing work on the transposition of this directive in the coming months.
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I will take one supplementary. I want to say that there is a significant need to expand this programme, to increase investment in it, and to expand the eligibility criteria.
If I can digress, an important role that local councillors have will be overseeing the implementation of these schemes. I have a concern, as the Minister and Minister of State are aware, with regard to the eligibility criteria of people who might want to be members of local authorities, specifically retained firefighters. The application of SI 216/2004 and Circular Letter LG(P) 06/09 is restrictive. It is not fair on retained firefighters. It has been applied differently in different local authorities. I have raised it with the Minister and Minister of State, and it is something we need to see progress on in the immediate future.
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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We note the last point the Deputy has made. If he looks at the funding for this particular programme, in 2023, €76.9 million was provided. There were 2,445, which was the target. Next year, the target is 3,500 social homes. We have an increased allocation in that area. We are looking at this as a programme we want to work. It is a programme we are committed to, and we are looking at the target of 36,500. It does not go without saying that by 2030, we are looking to have 70% of social housing stock with a BER rating of A or B. Our Department is currently working with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications on looking at the transposition of that draft energy performance building directive from the EU with regard to policies around the deployment of suitable solar energy installations on all buildings, including social housing stock.
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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On the retained firefighters, is the Minister of State going to work on that with the Department, and can retained firefighters expect to be treated fairly in the application of that circular?
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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It is something we are looking at. We have received correspondence from the Deputy and others, and it is something that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I are considering as we speak.
Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I was hoping to speak on the next question.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are not going to be able to reach it now because I think we are out of time.