Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
149. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the stakeholder engagement with the commercial built environment's working group; how often they have met and met with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34935/23]
View answerThe Commercial Built Environment Working Group has met three times so far, since it was established in the first quarter of 2023 as part of the work of the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce. It is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of the Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Heat and Built Environment Taskforce was created to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat, decarbonisation and the overall building stock energy use needs.
The Commercial Built Environment Roadmap Working Group held three separate stakeholder engagement events in July this year with Tourism and Hospitality Representative Organisations, Retail Representative Organisations and Office Users Representative Organisations and Commercial Landlords. These are sectors identified as having a high carbon abatement potential.
At each engagement officials and representatives discussed the measures contained in the Climate Action Plan, as well as EU legislative Proposals, and cross cutting policies, that will impact on the sustainability of our commercial buildings now and in the future. The stakeholders discussed decarbonising the buildings they use, the pathways and barriers and the supports available to accelerate the decarbonisation of the commercial building stock.
The Working Group is scheduled to complete a roadmap for the commercial sector this year.
