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

609. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when a minimum BER for the private rented sector will be legislated for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59248/25]

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

My Department is committed to improving energy efficiency in the rental market and work in this area is being informed by research commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). An ESRI research paper published earlier this year explores the investment requirements for energy efficiency upgrades in the private rental sector. 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 and it will support the development of policy and actions.

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 the availability of accommodation.

As part of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, the Government launched a new package of supports targeting homes that were built and occupied pre-2011. These supports have been made available to non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to improve the efficiency of their rental properties. The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, launched in 2024, enables homeowners, including non-corporate landlords, to borrow €5,000-€75,000 at significantly lower interest rates to complete a home energy upgrade. A tax incentive up to €10,000 per property is in place to encourage small-scale landlords to undertake retrofitting works while the tenant remains in situ. Budget 2026 included the announcement that this incentive will be extended for a further three years.