Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House for this important debate on climate action in the context of his area of departmental responsibility, namely, housing, local government and planning. There is no doubt that Ireland, along with the rest of the world, faces huge global challenges in terms of its response to climate change. This is the second annual transition statement as per the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. Under that Act, the Government is committed to present to both Houses of the Oireachtas an annual transition statement and to report on progress or lack thereof.

Ireland's targets are well known, namely, to reduce emissions by 30% from base 2005 levels in the non-emissions trading system, ETS, sector by 2030 and to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020. The latest EPA projections indicate that we are a good bit behind in reaching those targets. In fact, at current rates, we will only reduce our emissions by between 4% and 6%. This is a cause of genuine concern for policy makers and all stakeholders.

Numerous factors are contributing to the challenge we are facing. Obviously, our economy is growing again and we have increased productivity. In conjunction with that we have increased demands for both energy and transport. The Minister noted in his contribution that the demand for energy in the residential sector has increased by almost one fifth, while demand in the commercial sector is up by almost one third. In that context, the challenges are serious. Ireland is not alone in this regard, even within the EU. Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Malta are also facing similar challenges. It is up to us to respond in a responsible way and to engage our citizens and all sectors so that we can meet the challenges ahead.

The national mitigation plan is critical in terms of how we respond in the various emitting sectors like agriculture, transport, energy and the built environment. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is concerned with where people reside, with local communities and with the private and public housing stock. The energy efficiency of the housing stock is key to reducing energy demand and reducing emissions. We must acknowledge that even in the most pressing of times, the Government has supported various grant schemes to improve energy efficiency in homes. In 2016 alone the SEAI, through Government funding, supported over €130 million worth of energy efficiency upgrades in over 24,000 homes and almost 400 community buildings. The national energy authority also provided over €5 million in funding for 41 research, development and demonstration projects to find new ways of meeting the challenge ahead. I note that this evening the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, announced further grant assistance for various schemes to add to the existing warmer homes scheme. The Minister has announced an incentive for people who want to move away from burning fossil fuels to install heat pumps. A new grant of €3,500 towards a heat pump will come into effect from April 2018 which is to be welcomed. Heat pumps are a new, renewable energy technology that can contribute to reducing emissions produced in the residential sector. The grant for heating controls is being increased from €600 to €700. The external wall insulation scheme has grant levels ranging from €2,750 to €6,000. The Minister also announced a new, guaranteed funding commitment for smaller community energy projects, involving €28 million in grant aid which will be awarded in 2018 to encourage the transition away from fossil fuels. This all represents a recognition by Government that serious investment is needed to incentivise citizens and communities to move away from the burning of fossil fuels.

There are still many challenges ahead in the areas of standards and regulations, building technologies, insulation and materials and renewable energy generation. There is great potential in the development of solar power for the residential and commercial sectors. There is also great potential in geothermal technology. Wind has had its challenges but there is also potential there, particularly in offshore wind energy generation. Hydro schemes are also important. The small village where I come from generated almost 400 kW of hydro electricity from the River Clodiagh back in the 1800s. Unfortunately, not even 1 kW is generated there today. We need to leverage those hydro schemes again. I know there are regulations and EU obligations governing development around water sources but we need to unlock the potential of hydro, wind, solar and geothermal energy production in a more proactive way. We also need to engage our communities and bring them with us. In that way, we will avoid the objections that we see so often to renewable energy projects.

We must educate through our schools. The green schools initiative is very important and that should be acknowledged. Young children know a lot more about the environment than the middle and later generations. That is something that gives us hope for the future because those young children are the adults and leaders of tomorrow. Hopefully, they will continue efforts to drive down our emissions for the sake of our planet.

Another grant scheme in existence which should be acknowledged is the deep retrofit pilot scheme which is tackling energy efficiency in older housing. That scheme is available through the SEAI. The pilot programme will benefit many houses. It is referred to in the national mitigation plan and involves a commitment of €21.2 million between 2017 and 2019. That pilot project should be increased and expanded to include other housing schemes around the country.

Spatial planning and sustainable land use and management are critical for the future of sustainable communities. In that regard, I welcome the fact that a new national development plan has been announced by the Government. As the Minister has said, consultations on the plan will take place through various platforms and at various levels including regional assemblies and local authorities. I would expect that as a result of a new national planning framework being rolled out, all our county development and local area plans will be reviewed and revised to ensure that they align themselves with the national development plan. The objectives of the plan are to grow our cities to serve our regions and to achieve balanced regional development. It also aims to ensure that within our communities we develop sustainable transport options, including bicycle tracks and footpaths. Sustainable communities need to have facilities on their doorsteps, including renewable energy initiatives.

We have so much to learn. There is so much potential out there and so much to do.I offer my support to the Minister of State and to the Department in trying to achieve goals. With that potential, we can unlock the energy, vision and motivation of the young pupils in the schools with a Green Flag. If we can engage citizens in a proactive way, we will achieve the progress we need to make. There must be real tangible support from Government to incentivise the various projects I mentioned earlier.

I wish the Minister well. We must have an ongoing debate with constant reviews and re-evaluation to ensure we make the progress we wish to achieve.