Retrofitting and boosting the use of electric cars are top priorities for Climate Change Minister
September 9th 2016
Climate Change Minister Denis Naughten has indicated that his priorities are funding for a public sector energy efficiency programme, as well as incentives to encourage home retrofitting and use of electric vehicles.
The Irish Independent report this morning that the Minister wants to ramp up funding to make our current housing stock warmer and cheaper to heat.
This report comes in the build up to Budget 2017. Currently the Cabinet are working on the plan and if Minister Naughten is able to deliver on these priorities there could be a number of positive measures announced in December.
At present it is estimated that around one million homes are in need of some kind of energy efficiency works. The public sector also badly needs to improve its efficiency record. Under our current climate change commitments the public sector will need to reduce its energy consumption by 2020. They are currently half way to the target but capital investment is what is needed to meet the target.
Ireland is also lagging behind other countries when it comes to take up of electric vehicles. A series of new incentives to make it more attractive to motorists is needed. The report also states that the Minister is looking for extra funding for a renewable heat incentive to help with climate change targets. It says that a cut in carbon tax for some lower carbon intensive technologies is being considered to encourage take up.
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