Results 3,801-3,820 of 11,702 for speaker:Colm Burke

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: It would actually work out cheaper for everyone in real terms to do two adjoining houses together. I wonder whether that issue might be considered, especially where external wraparound of houses is occurring. In fairness, the SEAI has been supportive of the type of houses where if the internal work is done, it does not work out perfectly, whereas the wraparound does.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I will move on to another issue. The SEAI stated it supported 2,500 businesses in their energy transition. Will Dr. Byrne outline what level of supports the SEAI is talking about? What kind of employee numbers are involved in those companies? Out of the 2,500, are we talking about very small operations or big companies? A figure of 2,500 does not give us an idea of what the SEAI is...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Could a lot more be done on that? Many businesses are not aware of what could be done. Could we be more proactive on that? We are talking about a huge use of energy in offices and manufacturing facilities, and trying to improve the use of energy and getting value for money at the same time.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: That is correct.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Moving on from private businesses, what about the area of Departments and State enterprises as regards the efficient use of energy? We are doing very little within the public system. It is fine for new buildings but there has been very little movement regarding existing buildings, which are either owned or rented by State companies or Departments.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Leinster House is a typical example of the greatest waste of energy of all time. It is the most inefficient place as regards the use of energy.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: They should not be relying on the SEAI, but do we need to get a message out there in order for that to happen? Taxpayers' money is being spent in meeting the cost of that energy. Are we getting value for money? Could we be doing a lot more in a far faster timescale?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: If I could give you an example of-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I can give an example of one hotel in respect of energy costs. In 2019, its energy cost was €120,000 and in 2022, it was €460,000. We do not have any breakdown of figures in the public sector as regards how much energy bills increased by. Therefore, since it is about taxpayers' money, we now need to be far more proactive in dealing with this. I am not sure that we are.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: If the SEAI asked the public sector for feedback on the energy cost increase over the past three years, would it be able to get the figure? Would Departments be able to give it? Is there just some figure buried in the middle of accounts such that there will never be a full assessment of the total increase in costs for, say, 2022?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Does the SEAI think we need to be more proactive in this area? It is a little too late because energy costs have been increasing dramatically. I have not seen anything serious happening in the public sector over the past six months to show a sudden change in approach.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Can the SEAI take a more proactive approach on this?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Does Mr. Meally believe Departments and State enterprises should be doing more in this area?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I am happy to hold it over.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: There is the issue of dividing up the HSE into regional areas. Will there be a cost issue to this? As a result, how will tight control be kept on it? When we amalgamated all of the health boards into the HSE there was a huge cost factor. I am concerned that now we are doing the exact opposite and we will have another huge cost factor.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: The Chair knows that when anything is restructured there are costs. I was speaking to someone recently about the reconfiguration of the bands that HSE employees are in. Some people have gone up by two bands. This means their salaries have increased and rightly so. The people who have not move bands are feeling very aggrieved as a result. I am concerned that given what happened previously...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Perhaps it is.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I also think it is a good one to deal with.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: We have a problem in the sense that people can go abroad and get treatment and look for reimbursement from the State but if people want to go through the National Treatment Purchase Fund they must wait for someone else to decide whether they can do so. I am not sure we are getting value for money on this. It is worth looking at it to see whether we are getting value for money and could it...