Results 3,481-3,500 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: An important point is that one of the biggest barriers for those seeking an energy retrofit of their home can be finding information in respect of what should be done first and what will give the best return. Should one clad the walls, insulate the attic or replace the windows? The one-stop shops provide great information for such people. What impact will this have on people living in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: It is important to get that information out that there is no need to move out of the house. It is not like a big renovation or extension for which people may have to move out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: As regards realising the energy consumption of a building, the three committee members in the room are very interested in energy and all aspects thereof and could probably identify the running costs of a piece of household equipment. Many people are not aware of that. They can be surprised and shocked by the energy consumption of certain household appliances and how much energy those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Nothing speaks louder than watching the cost of energy usage add up on a screen in cent and euro while you are sitting at home and looking at it. It makes people ask why 3 kWh of electricity is being used in the house at that moment and wonder what has been left on or who is using it. The information is there for people rather than lecturing them on what the costs are or telling them not to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I have a couple of questions. Does Deputy Ó Broin wish to come back in for a fourth round?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: We have veered into the matter of electric vehicles twice now, but it has some relevance in the development of vehicle-to-house and vehicle-to-grid-type technology. I do not know if that technology is quite there yet. Will that be incorporated into how the energy efficiency of a house is rated when the capability exists to take the energy stored in vehicles and bring it into the energy use...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: It is a two-way system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: It is a fascinating area, as is the way technology advances within a decade. We will probably look back at the recording of this meeting and say, "Of course, everybody is doing vehicle-to-grid now", but that might be in five, six or ten years. It brings me back to the matter of the construction capacity we have and the number of people we have to do this work. I am aware that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: An analysis is done of that so we do not end up with 25,000 electricians and not enough plumbers and carpenters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: There are good long-term prospects in that area. Because of the target we have of 500,000 houses and more, the work will be where people live. People will not necessarily have to travel that far for it if we are to eventually reach that target, which is encouraging. I had a brief discussion with somebody the other day about heat pumps and that person asked me about storage heaters. Are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: As renewable electricity ramps up, does that impact on the efficiency of a storage heater? If 80% of our electricity is generated by renewables, rather than 50% generated by fossil fuel as at the moment, does that make the storage heater more-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Sorry, I misunderstood. Thanks for that. There seems to be a focus on fabric first. That seems to be the way we target the retrofitting of a home, with the wrap and the insulation. Do we run the risk that, if we focus everything on fabric first and everyone is working on that, when we then try to fit heat pumps we have capacity pressures in doing that? Is it possible to fit heat pumps...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: It is a fascinating aspect of what we are talking about. We were discussing last night, even at the planning stage, having to look at the carbon impact of what is constructed. Deputy Ó Broin covered many of the questions I was going to ask. That definitely incentivises technological advancements as well. The methodology Deputy Ó Broin was talking about of off-site construction...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (4 May 2022)

Steven Matthews: 223. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21685/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (4 May 2022)

Steven Matthews: 262. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the need to expedite this process due to the population growth in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21766/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Policy (5 May 2022)

Steven Matthews: 7. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the Irish sea way walking trail to boost tourism along the east and south coasts as committed to in the programme for Government; the position regarding the consultation process with communities along the coastline from Carlingford Lough to Cobh; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21878/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (5 May 2022)

Steven Matthews: 8. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she is taking to promote slow tourism through sail-rail-trail sustainable tourism offerings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21879/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (5 May 2022)

Steven Matthews: 87. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the Croí Cónaithe towns fund as outlined in Housing for All, which will allow local authorities to support homeownership by making available serviced sites at a reduced cost and by supporting the refurbishment of vacant properties; when it is likely to come on stream; and if he will make a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (5 May 2022)

Steven Matthews: I ask the Minister about the Croí Cónaithe fund. We know there is currently huge attention being paid to dereliction and vacancy. We know the benefits of bringing derelict and vacant housing back into housing stock, not just for residential use but because we know about the embodied carbon in vacant and derelict housing. It makes perfect economic and environmental sense to do so....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (5 May 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State and welcome the fact that Croí Cónaithe will be launched shortly. I also recognise that Housing for All is an extensive and significant housing policy document that encompasses a massive range of housing, including social, affordable and private. That needs to be acknowledged, as well as the fact that success is being delivered within that. A...