Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
851. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address and clarify a situation of multiple and repeated failures with regard to the air and water home heating/hot water systems (details supplied). [2077/24]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019.
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their homes, my Department provides funding under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP). Works eligible under the EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. The funded measures achieve a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER) as identified by the 2018 Cost Optimal calculations carried out under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
There are a number of regulations and guidance documents which outline the requirements for space and water heating systems in a dwelling and how this should be controlled as listed below.
S.I. 183 OF 2019 - European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2019 requires that space and water heating systems in dwellings be energy efficient, with efficient heat sources and effective controls. These regulations also require that the dwelling owner be provided with sufficient information about the building, the fixed building services, controls and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and energy than is reasonable. The NSAI Standard Recommendation S.R.50-4:2021 Building services – Part 4: Heat pump systems in dwellings provides guidance for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of heat pumps in dwellings in Ireland.
Technical Guidance Document (TGD) L 2022 Conservation of Fuel and Energy – Dwellings (Table 2 – page 29) provides for the minimum controls for air-to water heat pump systems.
The document Heating & Domestic Hot Water Systems for Dwellings– Achieving Compliance with Part L & Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2019 provides guidance on the minimum provisions for heat pumps in dwellings to comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations for space heating systems and hot water systems.
The document www.seai.ie/publications/Heat-Pump-Operation-and-Maintenance-Guide.pdf provides further guidance on the performance, maintenance plan and life cycle of the component.
Furthermore, Part D materials and Workmanship of the Building Regulations requires that all materials used in buildings should be fit for their intended use and the conditions in which they are to be used.
The selection of properties for inclusion in my Departments Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme, assessment of eligible works required and prioritisation of works is a matter for each individual local authority in their administration of the programme. Maintenance requirements post installation is also the legal responsibility of the local authority and therefore further details may be available from the local authority on request.
