Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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467. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are plans to increase funding for the vacant property refurbishment grant (Croí Cónaithe towns fund); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56761/25]

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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468. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider incorporating ‘EnergyCloud Ready’ standards into the design and specification of new social and affordable housing developments, ensuring that heat pumps, storage heaters, batteries, and smart water tanks installed in new builds can be remotely activated to make use of surplus renewable energy; the way in which new-build housing can contribute to demand-side flexibility and the reduction of energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56767/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Social and affordable housing is specified in accordance with the requirements of the Building Regulations. The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) and certain works to an existing building.

The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. These requirements are set out in 12 parts (classified as Parts A to M). Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) are published to accompany each part indicating how the requirements of that part can be achieved in practice. Part L of the Building Regulations, relates to Conservation of Fuel and Energy.

Regulation 8(d) of The European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 183 of 2019) requires for new dwellings the provision and commissioning of energy efficient space and water heating systems with efficient heat sources and effective controls.

Technical Guidance Document L 2022 (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) Dwellings subsection 1.4.3 provides guidance on the minimum provisions for space heating and hot water supply systems controls as follows:

Space and water heating systems should be effectively controlled so as to ensure the efficient use of energy by limiting the provision of heat energy use to that required to satisfy user requirements, insofar as is reasonably practicable. The aim should be to provide the following minimum level of control:

- automatic control of space heating on the basis of room temperature;

- automatic control of heat input to stored hot water on the basis of stored water temperature;

- separate and independent automatic time control of space heating and hot water;

- shut down of boiler or other heat source when there is no demand for either space or water heating from that source.

The guidance in paragraphs 1.4.3.2 to 1.4.3.5 is specifically applicable to fully pumped hot water-based central heating systems using gas, oil or biomass boilers.

The minimum requirements for controls for heating systems using heat pumps are set out in Tables 2 and 3.

The minimum requirements for controls for all other heating systems are set out in Heating and Domestic Hot Water Systems for Dwellings – Achieving compliance with Part L and Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2019.

There are no plans to amend these requirements at this time.

Specifications for the installation of additional devices for communicating with the smart grid are a matter for the building’s provider of electricity and the responsible local authority.