Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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962. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he will introduce minimum BER standards for the private rented sector and for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12638/25]

James Browne (Wexford, 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.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published a research paper in February 2025, which explores the investment requirements for energy efficiency upgrades in the private rental sector. The research was funded by my Department, under a joint programme the Department operates with the ESRI. The ERSI’s research is a valuable contribution to our understanding of future investment requirements to ensure the appropriate energy efficiency upgrades in the private rental sector. This information will support the development of future policy and actions to improve the energy efficiency of housing stock in the private rental market.

The findings from this published ESRI report will feed into further research in this area and wider consideration at Government level of the supports needed to upgrade energy efficiency in the residential private rental sector. 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 private rental market, particularly around availability of accommodation.

In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Local Authority Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.

Works eligible under my Department's EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit, ranging from those requiring minor levels of works to properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting.

Each year the target number of units and funding provided under the EERP are subject to the funding available as part of the National Development Plan and annual Estimates process. The 2025 EERP budget provides funding support of €90 million to retrofit 2,500 properties. Local authorities have received their individual allocations and work is underway in that regard. Over the period 2013 to 2024, 82,621 grants for homes retrofitted under the programme have been provided with a total exchequer spend of over €418 million, this figure includes those properties retrofitted under the Midlands Retrofit Pilot Programme. The number of properties upgraded per local authority is available on my Department's website at the following links:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/

www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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963. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12642/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has been in touch with Kerry County Council to clarify the circumstances of this case and assist with this matter.

However, the administration of the HAP scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and your constituent should remain in contact with the housing section of their local authority to resolve the matter.