Results 18,261-18,280 of 26,320 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an gcoiste as an gcuireadh chun labhairt leo maidin inniu, agus go háirithe as an obair atá déanta acu ar son ár gcomhshaoil. I thank the Chair and the members for the invitation to be here today, and for the work they are doing on behalf of the environment and the climate action plan. I am joined by my colleagues,...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: We are actively engaged on that. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is leading the departmental modern methods of construction piece and, as the Chairman said, there are also the EU construction products regulation and the review of the energy performance of buildings. We are awaiting the EU regulation, although one or two countries in the EU have moved ahead on that. The...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: I will add one point to that. We have established a vacant homes unit within the Department for the first time, so we are able to actually track what vacant and derelict stock is coming back into use, either through local authorities or through grants like Croí Cónaithe. We have updates every week on that. Thirty of our 31 local authorities now have a permanent vacant homes...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. She mentioned the Irish Green Building Council. I have engaged with it twice recently about its views on construction and seeing opportunities for how we could potentially do things better. I mentioned in my opening statement that all of the affordable and social housing stock is A2-rated. Some 87% are now-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: That is fine.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: I fully understand that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: What the construction sector will actually generate in carbon emissions has been quantified. My main focus is on making sure that we are using more modern methods of construction, MMC. As I have outlined that, I will not repeat myself. We have to catch up on State-delivered housing. I agree with the Deputy on that. For example, timber-framed houses use timber. Some 48% of all homes...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: We discussed the energy performance of buildings directive briefly earlier. We are working with the SEAI to put that in place.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: I understand that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: That depends on the output in any given year. To give an example-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: To give an example, last year, we targeted 24,600 homes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: We built just short of 30,000. I can get the Deputy the detail. I do not have the overall quantification of that. I am saying-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: What we have to do, Jennifer Whitmore-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: Excuse me, Deputy Whitmore. I apologise. There is a big focus on using MMC. We are seeing much better practices across the country. I take the Deputy's point about the quantification of the carbon from the construction sector and particularly the residential sector. There is no question that it has its role to play. That is why we are focusing in particular on ensuring that our local...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: That is 1 January 2027.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: Well-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: That is fine. I get the Deputy's question. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, rightly said, the embodied carbon frameworks will be in place from 1 January 2027. It is not that anyone is hiding away from it. When one looks at what is actually being delivered, it is hard to argue with its quality.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: We are working towards it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: I will let my colleagues come in on this but will take the Deputy’s last point first. Local authorities are moving well on retrofitting their stock. There is an opportunity in older estates where homes may have been purchased. Fingal County Council is going to run a pathway scheme in relation to making an offer to the whole estate while retrofitting social homes within it. It is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)
Darragh O'Brien: I will not comment on Galway because it is a live matter with An Bord Pleanála. The Deputy mentioned the NPF review. We are undertaking that now and it will be done as a matter of urgency. We are waiting for the final CSO data to do that and look at population trends and growth, specifically in relation to compact urban growth. Our town centre first policy feeds well into ensuring...