Results 6,321-6,340 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 139. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps the OPW is taking in collaboration with the EPA to identify nature-based solutions to develop catchment management measures to provide benefits to various sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21097/22]

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

Steven Matthews: The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss COM (2021) 802, a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the energy performance of buildings, which is obviously a significant challenge for this country in terms of how we build and heat our buildings and how we retrofit the housing stock we have to bring it up to a high energy efficiency standard and make the...

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

Steven Matthews: Can the committee get a copy of that circular?

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

Steven Matthews: There are just 28 seconds left in the slot, which is not sufficient time to answer those questions. The Deputy raises some very pertinent observations about the costs of one-off housing and the impact this can have on infrastructure, transport and so on. We might get to answer those questions if anybody wishes to comment briefly. In fact, I do not think we are going to have time.

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

Steven Matthews: I point out to members that if they speak for six and a half minutes, they are only going to leave 30 seconds for the answers. We need to be fair on the witnesses.

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

Steven Matthews: It is the Independents' second slot, not the Deputy’s second slot.

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

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Deegan. I will have to interrupt him there. I call Senator Fitzpatrick.

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

Steven Matthews: Is that question to the SEAI?

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

Steven Matthews: I will revert to the committee rota, which is Sinn Féin, the Green Party and then the Social Democrats. I invite Deputy Ó Broin from the Sinn Féin Party to commence.

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

Steven Matthews: We have spent nearly ten minutes on this. We can come back to answer the question on the PRS section as well.

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

Steven Matthews: I thank Dr. Byrne. The next speaker is Deputy Cian O'Callaghan.

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

Steven Matthews: The next speaker is Deputy Higgins.

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

Steven Matthews: Next is Deputy Gould, followed by me, after which we will move on to the third round. If anyone wishes to contribute again on the third round, he or she might indicate.

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

Steven Matthews: The Deputy is over his time.

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

Steven Matthews: Deputy Gould has made a very important point about time and funding. The climate action ambition we have now should have started more earnestly ten or 20 years ago. We have a plan in place now with a commitment and funding. It is important not to lose sight of that. I am sure future Governments will commit to the aim as well and everybody will work together to ensure we achieve the target...

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

Steven Matthews: The Deputy got up to approximately 11 minutes and managed to name every street in north Cork, which is quite impressive. I want to bring this back to why we are doing this. When we speak about energy efficiency in buildings, we concentrate on emissions and energy usage. We quantify the energy and its cost. Much of the time we do not focus the discussion on the benefits that accrue to...

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...