Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1622. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to estimate the cost of retrofitting all HAP properties to a minimum B2 standard. [43581/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Based on the data sets available, the ESRI paper explores the energy efficiency profile of the housing stock in the private residential rental sector, estimates the cost of upgrading in a range of scenarios and focuses on the financial capacity of household landlords to finance such investments.

The ESRI examined the cost of upgrading all private rental dwellings, not just those with HAP-supported tenancies. Separate costings for this HAP cohort is not included in the paper, so the data sought is not available.

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 and wider consideration at Government level of the current and future supports required to upgrade energy efficiency in the residential private rental sector, 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 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.