Sinn Féin spokesperson on Climate, the Environment and Energy, Pa Daly TD, has urged Minister Darragh O’Brien to heed the advice of his own officials.
In briefing documents supplied to the minister, reforms mirroring Sinn Féin’s longstanding retrofitting proposals were recommended.
Teachta Daly said:
“The advice received by Daragh O’Brien has confirmed what Sinn Féin has been saying for years.
“They confirmed that the government’s scheme is not fit for purpose and requires a radical overhaul. Much more needs to be done for those on low incomes and for other people – criticisms which Sinn Féin has been levelling at government for years.
“The reality is that the government’s deeply inequitable and regressive scheme is only available to those with the most means, while those on low- and middle-income households are left out in the cold.
“The government’s scheme also has no hope of reaching its targets.
“120,000 homes are supposed to be retrofitted to a BER B2 by 2025, yet only 62,892 have been completed to date.
“When the 2030 target of 500,000 is considered, this gap looms even larger. The shortfall stands at a staggering 437,108.
“The shortfalls continue with stunted progress all across the board – in district heating, heat pumps and biomethane. No matter what way you look at it, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will set Ireland on a path to certain climate failure if they don’t admit that their approach to date has been totally flawed.
“As the government’s own officials have pointed out, the best way to rectify this situation and to give Ireland any chance of meeting our 2030 targets or even to get close to them is to adopt proposals that Sinn Féin have put on the table for years.
“They made clear that accessible, inclusive and affordable area-based schemes were the best foot forward rather than the regressive approach that has been applied thus far.
“Sinn Féin’s plan is to spend more where it matters in order to deliver a tiered, area-targeted-based scheme aimed at low- and middle-income households. We propose a tiered plan targeting those most in need, and furthermore propose additional resources for social authority retrofits. Directing scarce labour resources to the coldest homes is the best use of public money, is socially equitable and will show the best return on public investment in achieving climate targets.
“Significantly, we would also establish a dedicated scheme for solid fuel homes. Rather than targeting solid fuel homes with punitive action like carbon tax hikes and turf bans, we propose to support them as part of a just transition.
“Sinn Féin would deliver a fair and realistic retrofitting scheme, making a real difference to ordinary people’s lives and to the planet.
“Ireland is facing a possible €26.6bn in fines if we do not turn this ship around. I am calling on the government to make the necessary reforms and investment now to help many more people to retrofit their homes. Sticking with business as usual will bring little benefits and could lead to colossal burdens in the future.”
