Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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644. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on his Department’s work to develop embodied carbon methodology and to establish structures in line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to reduce carbon in construction materials for all new buildings, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55489/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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A cross-departmental steering group lead by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland was established in 2024 to develop embodied carbon methodology and to establish structures in line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to reduce carbon in construction materials for all new buildings.

Following a stakeholder workshop and public consultation during the summer the final report was submitted to my Department at the end of Q3 2025.

The final report and methodology is planned to be published by the SEAI in the coming months.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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645. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on his Department’s work to complete a built environment and planning scoping exercise, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55490/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the National Adaptation Framework, my Department agreed to complete a Built Environment and planning scoping document.

The National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA) was published by the EPA in June 2025 and the recommendations from this report have been included in the draft scoping document.

Work to complete the document is continuing.

Along with the Built Environment and Planning scoping exercise, 3 of the 10 Sectoral Adaptation Plans are the responsibility of my Department. These are:

• The Built and Archaeological Heritage Adaptation Plan.
• The Water Quality and Water Services Infrastructure Adaptation Plan.
• The Biodiversity Adaptation Plan.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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646. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on his Department’s publishing the Bill to transpose the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55491/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275) (EPBD) is the European Union’s main legislative instrument aiming to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings. The recast Directive, which was adopted by the European Parliament and Council, came into force in May 2024. The Directive requires transposition of the relevant Articles by 29th May 2026.

Significant work is being undertaken across Government and by the SEAI to determine the impacts of the requirements of the Directive, including those related to minimum energy performance requirements, BER Ratings and the progressive renovation of the residential building stock.

Articles with earlier transposition dates have been transposed in accordance with the Directive. These are Article 17(15) related to subsidies for fossil fuel boilers and Art 13(10)d related to Building Automation and Control systems.

Work is continuing in my Department on the transposition of the Directive