Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
97. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if the rolling out of green infrastructure, including smart meters, EV charging points and home retrofitting, have been subject to a human rights and equality impact assessment as required under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35127/20]
View answerIt is vital our progress towards a carbon-neutral 2050 and a greener future is done in a fair and just way. Have key climate proposals, such retrofitting, the installation of smart meters and electric vehicle, EV, charging points, been subject to a human rights and equality impact assessment as required under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014?
The achievement of the goals set out in the Department’s statement of strategy are dependent on the efforts and professionalism of my staff and underpinned by the values set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan. The Department, in its dealings with staff, stakeholders and citizens on actions to address climate change, including policies on smart meters, EV charging points and home retrofitting, is committed to the public service ethos of independence, integrity, impartiality, equality, fairness and respect.
The programme for Government sets out the Government's response to the significant challenges facing the country, including Covid-19, decarbonising our economy and creating a sustainable future for all. A new statement of strategy for my Department is currently being developed in accordance with the requirements of the Public Service Management Act 1997.
The strategy will set out the vision and mission for my Department for the next three years and the key objectives, outputs and related strategies across the broad portfolio for which we are responsible. It will, inter alia, address the comprehensive and ambitious suite of commitments in the programme for Government to be delivered by my Department. An important part of the development process involves scanning the external environment to ensure that the strategy reflects changes and challenges in society and the economy, including any statutory requirements such as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.
It sounds as if they have not been equality-proofed, so to speak. It speaks to the point of the actual impact of policy decisions of Government and the need to do away with the notion of "them and us" in relation to the green agenda. It seems to frame much of what happens and that is underpinned by the implications in the real world of policy decisions on the green agenda. I want to ask about some of the retrofitting programmes, specifically the warmth and well-being energy efficiency programme and the better energy warmer homes scheme. Those are important schemes to protect some of our most vulnerable living in fuel and energy poverty. They are stymied at this time due to Covid. There are significant delays in delivering on those programmes. Can the Minister give me an update on those?
Taking the issue of retrofitting, section 42(1) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 states:
A public body shall, in the performance of its functions, have regard to the need to—
(a) eliminate discrimination,
(b) promote equality of opportunity...
I could go on but what we are doing with the retrofitting programme is meeting the requirement in that section. I cite the fact, and this is from memory, that of the €270-odd million in funding the Government has committed next year to retrofitting is a budget commitment to this area that is huge and beyond compare. Some €70 million or so is going to be in social housing, targeting the homes of those who are typically, but not always, on lower incomes. Similarly, the warmer homes scheme is one which, as the Deputy said, is specifically targeted at those in receipt of fuel allowance, where there is 100% support for it. I think it accounts for more than €100 million of that overall budget so in our framing and design of this, it is very much designed to target social justice improvements as well as environmental and building quality improvements.
The Deputy is right that the system did suffer somewhat due to Covid-19 but we are continuing the work right through level 5 because it counts as essential construction work. I asked my officials about this the other day and they informed me it is proceeding and is not being delayed by Covid. It is subject to every on-site assessment but there is not a restriction on that work at the moment.
There is a significant delay in terms of a backlog. I certainly welcome the funding and would encourage a significant ramping up of recruitment of workers to address that. I also acknowledge the fact that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul indicated that there are around 400,000 people living in fuel and energy poverty. Age Action indicated that there are in the region of 2,000 excess winter deaths related to fuel and energy poverty. I reference the strategy to combat energy poverty 2016 to 2019. Is the Minister going to take on that baton and follow through with a number of the recommendations, including, for example, the establishment of an independently-chaired energy poverty advisory group? Is this something the Government is committed to and will commit to in the time ahead?
This is part of a massive investment in the area. This is a project of a scale that is probably one of the biggest investment projects in the history of the State, and for the private sector as well. On the backlog, the Deputy is right there has been a severe backlog with the likes of the warmer homes scheme. That is one of the reasons that in the budget, as well as increasing the actual quantum we are providing, we got agreement for an additional 57 staff within the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and 50 staff within my Department to ensure we are equipped to deliver this scale of ambition. Included in that will be a full suite of measures to implement the objectives on the eradication of fuel poverty. The best way of eradicating fuel poverty in the long run is for us to meet our objective of going to every single house and removing the need to burn fossil fuels and the bills that come with that. Improved public health will come with better-insulated, warmer buildings so a large number of the additional 107 staff joining the existing Department and SEAI complement will be going into this very area and aiming to tackle fuel poverty.
