Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider a large-scale trial of innovative technological solutions such as those provided by an organisation (details supplied) to reduce the instance of fuel poverty among social housing tenants. [22675/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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This technology is consistent with the Government’s Climate Action Plan and the Programme for Government which supports the ambitious plan to deliver 70% of Ireland’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It also supports the work of my Department and other Government agencies and Departments who are focused on helping to address fuel poverty. Last month I was pleased to launch a project to trial this innovative technological solution between EnergyCloud and Clúid – our largest Approved Housing Body. The current project will initially see 50 families benefit; however, it is clear from Clúid and EnergyCloud that they have an ambitious target to support families in each of the more than 8,300 Clúid properties throughout Ireland. This technology utilises existing infrastructure in the home, such as the hot water tank, to receive surplus renewable energy at times when it is not needed on the energy grid.

A strong emphasis on fuel poverty and the need to improve thermal performance in the social housing stock remains a priority for my Department, as is evident in the newly revised and enhanced Energy Efficiency Programme for 2021, which has received a substantial increase in annual funding support to assist local authorities in the management and maintenance of their stock. 2021 is the first year of a ten year programme that will see a significant increase and ramping up of retrofitting works over the next number of years, and it will build on the good work already undertaken by local authorities’ to-date.

The €65 million investment made available this year for energy retrofitting works, including the Midlands Retrofit Programme, will not only benefit local authorities in assisting them in the upgrade and maintenance of their housing stock, but will more importantly benefit householders in many ways, their homes will be warmer, easier to heat and more comfortable, it will enhance air quality in the home and for those currently using oil or gas they will see a saving on their energy bills,

In addition, the Government funds a number of residential energy efficiency upgrade schemes. These schemes are operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and include partial grants for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of energy efficiency upgrades as well as schemes that provide free energy efficiency improvements for people who are in receipt of certain welfare payments. Grants are available for a range of measures including insulation, heat pumps, solar panels and integrated heating controls.

The installation of smart meters is a key enabler for the energy transition to a decarbonised system as outlined in the Climate Action Plan. The move to upgraded digital meters will bring many benefits for energy customers by enhancing competition, making bills more accurate, providing customers with better information on their energy consumption and empowering them with new tools to make more informed choices about their energy needs. Since September 2019, when ESB Networks commenced the replacement of over 2 million electricity meters, over 250,000 meters have been installed to the end of March 2021.

We are now on an ambitious and irreversible journey away from fossil fuels to renewables. We have set ambitious targets for the decarbonisation of our built environment – these form an integral part of our Climate Action Plan, and we are currently ramping up that ambition to achieve that reduction in emissions. One significant area we are doing this in is Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB), which now applies to all new buildings.

Improving energy efficiency will improve the health and comfort of those living in dwelling.

NZEB will deliver benefits across the three categories of

- Occupant costs - in terms of energy savings,

- Occupant wellbeing - in terms of improved indoor air quality and

- Our planet – impact on the development of climate change.

I will continue to ensure that improved energy efficiency and associated amelioration of fuel poverty both in social housing and the private rental sector, will continue to be the focus of attention in the years ahead. This will also provide a platform which supports the development of new enterprises which will enable the transition away from a carbon based society.