Written answers

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Energy Efficiency

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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30. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of State-owned buildings that will require retrofitting by county; the number that have been completed to date; the estimated investment that will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3584/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government has set a target that all public sector buildings should achieve a Building Energy Rating (BER) level of B by 2030. A research study, funded by the European Commission's Structure Reform Support Service was undertaken to inform the measures necessary to achieve this target and the total level of investment necessary. This study is currently being finalised.

While my Department does not keep a register of public sector buildings, the work carried out as part of the research study estimates there are up to 15,000 public sector buildings in Ireland of which circa 82% are owned with the remainder rented. This figure includes schools and other buildings which are considered public sector buildings but may not necessarily be State owned.

The study estimates that circa 8% of public sector buildings have a BER of at least B. This indicates that there are over 10,000 non-rented public sector buildings that will require an energy efficiency upgrade by 2030 in order to achieve the Government target. 

The Public Sector Pathfinder Retrofit Programme, co-funded by my Department and administered by the SEAI, provides capital funding for energy retrofit building projects aimed at testing approaches and developing a model that can be replicated across the wider public sector. Since 2017, my Department has provided funding of over €36 million which has supported energy upgrades in 280 buildings. Under Budget 2021, funding for the Programme has more than doubled to €21 million from last year's Budget. I expect the level of exchequer funding for the retrofit of public sector buildings to increase further over the coming years.

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