Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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273. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures he will take to ensure landlords retrofit homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40332/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed under Housing for All to developing a roadmap to implement minimum Building Energy Rating (BER) standards, where feasible, for the private rental sector. This action is aimed at both improving the quality of housing stock available to rent and contributing to meeting our overall national climate targets in relation to emissions reduction. It will increase energy efficiency, help to alleviate fuel poverty, help to protect tenants' health and improve comfort levels in rental homes.

Work in this area, which will support the objectives set down in the Government’s Climate Action Plan, is ongoing. It will be underpinned in the first instance by detailed research undertaken under the joint research programme my Department operates with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The primary focus of this research is an exploration of the investment requirements for energy efficiency upgrades in the private rental sector, including an analysis of the financial capacity of landlords to invest in retrofitting energy efficiency measures. It is expected that this research will be published shortly.

The results of the ESRI analysis will be examined to inform the Government’s next steps in this area. The appropriate balance will need to be struck between improving the energy efficiency of the rental stock and the potential impact any intervention may have on the rental market, particularly around availability of accommodation. Following the completion of the ESRI analysis, my Department will progress proposals to introduce the implementation of minimum BER ratings in the private rented sector in line with the target set down in Housing for All.