Paul Murphy
Question:505. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the projected cost to retrofit all public buildings to a passive zero carbon standard. [47228/19]
View answerTuesday, 19 November 2019
Questions (505)
Written answers
The Government is committed to ensuring that the public sector continues to play a leadership role in tackling climate change through the achievement of energy efficiency gains and carbon emissions reductions. This commitment is supported by a key Government objective in the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Public Buildings to reach a “B” Building Energy Rating by 2030. To achieve this, my Department is working with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform to avail of expertise under the EU Structural Reform Support Service (SRSS). This exercise will inform the design and development of a Framework for implementing a comprehensive public sector building upgrade Programme. It will also entail consultation with key stakeholders on the issues and barriers to be overcome. Developing the Framework will also need to have regard to issues such as project selection, prioritisation, appropriate governance structures as well as the potential to use Energy Performance Contracting models where appropriate. A key part of this project will also be to assess the scale of investment needed and to recommend the optimal mix of funding options which will inform scheduling of Exchequer funding support. A total of €800 million has been provided under Project Ireland 2040 for public building energy retrofit, along with further funding for school energy retrofits, third level building renovations, and public transport fleet replacement.