Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As we know, the just transition objective is to fund innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of those especially impacted by the move away from carbon. My county is impacted both with regard to employment and those who used the bog as a source of fuel for their homes. We were happy when Kildare was one of the counties where the retrofitting pilot project was to be rolled out. Eligible residents in four different parts of Kildare, in local authority estates, were chosen for this roll-out. Their homes were to be retrofitted to increase their energy efficiency. That would reduce costs associated with heating their homes.

There has been significant frustration with the first programme rolled out in my home town of Rathangan. Residents are incredibly disappointed that the retrofitting programme they were promised is not the one that they are receiving. Originally, a commitment was made to residents that the funding would support retrofitting, including the replacement of windows and doors which, in this housing estate, which is not new, would be important for energy efficiency. The residents have now been told by Kildare County Council that the funding for the scheme is not sufficient to fulfil those commitments. The fact that the doors and windows are now not included in the scheme has seen interest in the scheme fall by one third.

We all know that draughty windows and doors are a significant source of heat loss. It does not make sense to retrofit a home, cause significant inconvenience to the family living there by turning their home upside-down, and then leave the old doors and windows in place. This fund was made available to people through the just transition.It is vital that the programme is delivered as promised and that the scheme meets the expectation of all of the residents within the particular housing estates that were chosen for it.

Will the Minister of State clarify who is responsible for the inconsistency? Will sufficient funding be made available to retrofit properly the homes of those who have applied to join the scheme? It is not just about the residents of Rathangan. The scheme in that area was the first to be put in place. It is also about those in Derrinturn and Athy in County Kildare. Will the Department fully engage with Kildare County Council to ensure the promises made to the people of Rathangan and to the residents of the three other schemes are fully delivered?

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue and for the opportunity to provide an update on the midlands retrofit pilot programme, which is a Government initiative under the just transition programme. The midlands retrofit pilot project is an important part of the just transition programme, which needs to be facilitated in the context of Bord na Móna's exit from peat and the direct impact that is having on the midlands.

The counties that were most affected by reductions in peat harvesting were included in the programme, namely, the eight counties of Kildare, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Laois, Roscommon, Tipperary and Galway. As part of the just transition proposals for the midlands, budget 2020 provided an additional €20 million to fund energy efficiency upgrades to local authority houses in the affected midland counties. The pilot scheme was focused on ensuring the energy efficiency upgrade of a minimum of 750 local authority homes in the midlands. It prioritised the upgrading of larger batches of homes in distinct, compact geographical areas and sought to build on the heretofore shallow retrofit programme in which local authorities were engaged in a deeper retrofit to achieve a B2-cost optimal building energy rating, BER, and promote the use of heat pumps where appropriate.

My Department worked with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, the national retrofit task force and the relevant local authorities on the design and roll-out of the pilot programme. Unfortunately, the programme was interrupted by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. That was further exacerbated by the shutdown of construction in 2020 and the further shutdown in the early months of 2021. With the lifting of the construction shutdown, the pilot programme is now back on track and the expectation is that the targeted minimum of 750 local authority homes for retrofit under the pilot programme will be completed in 2021.

As of now, four homes have been completed, a further 60 are on site, 217 are at contract award stage and 373 are at tender stage. The remaining homes are under survey. In respect of County Kildare specifically, 91 local authority homes are being progressed for retrofitting. The schedule of eligible works under the programme includes the replacement of windows and external doors where it is required to achieve the required heat loss indicator and to ensure the home is heat pump ready and can achieve a BER rating of B2-cost optimal. All decisions on the homes selected for the programme or the works to be completed on each home are a matter for the relevant local authority.

I give a commitment that we will engage with Kildare County Council specifically on this issue. I have the schedule of works with me, which commits to the replacement of windows and doors, as required, to bring the homes up to a BER of B2.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. He mentioned the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which are completely understandable. I accept his Department will engage with Kildare County Council on the matter. The Minister of State mentioned the 750 local authority homes in the midlands across the eight counties included in the programme. If a third of participants have dropped out, as we have seen in the area of Rathangan, then only 500 local authority homes will be part of the programme. The Minister of State noted that in Kildare, 91 local authority homes are being processed for retrofitting. With the dropouts, what figure is reduced to 60. That is not good for a pilot project.

The Minister of State has spoken of trying to achieve a B2 BER. That is not going to happen if windows and doors are not replaced. I take on board the Minister of State's point that the Department is fully committed to replacing doors and windows. There is an anomaly, because Kildare County Council is asserting the Department has capped the funding and it will not be able to replace doors and windows. However, the Minister of State has stated today that according to the Department, the replacement of doors and windows is very necessary.

Will the Minister of State come back to me after he was engaged with Kildare County Council and update me on the results of that engagement? It is vitally important, not just for this project but for all of the other projects, that there is an effective and efficient roll-out. I hope we see also a roll-out of grants for retrofitting in respect of private homes.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As I stated, all the decisions relating to the selection of homes and for the programme of works to be completed are a matter for the local authority, in this case, Kildare County Council. I have stated that the replacement of windows and doors, airtightness and the taping of sealant to windows is part of the programme.

The issue needs to be resolved between my Department and Kildare County Council. It is our objective to achieve the maximum level of participation possible if we are to meet our climate targets and to deal with issues of fuel poverty throughout the country and the just transition programme. It is vitally important we achieve maximum participation of households in the scheme. I also confirm to the Senator that grant schemes will be announced for private dwellings later as part of this programme. It is vitally important we get it right. I will take the points raised by the Senator back to the Department and seek a response.