Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
969. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there are solar panels in place on the rooftop or within the grounds of her Department building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30690/26]
View answer970. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30708/26]
View answer971. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30728/26]
View answer972. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30745/26]
View answer973. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30766/26]
View answer976. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any buildings operated and owned by her Department that have solar panels in place to support the energy demands of the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30836/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 969, 970, 971, 972, 973 and 976 together.
The Department currently occupies buildings in Block 2, Miesian Plaza, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 and Joyce House, Lombard Street, Dublin (location of the Guardian ad Litem National Service). Currently there are no solar panels in place at either location.
As both buildings currently occupied by the Department are leased on our behalf by the Office of Public Works (OPW), a discussion has not taken place to date to discuss the merits of requesting the installation of solar panels. Any such proposal would need to be considered in conjunction with the relevant landlord for each building, under the terms of the leases held by the OPW.
The Department does not have a solar panel policy and, in terms of the bodies under our aegis, has not issued any advice with regard to the installation of solar panels on buildings owned or operated by them. Overall policy and public sector requirements on energy efficiency are led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, through the Climate Action Plan, with national implementation frameworks and guidance provided and supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. This Department, along with the bodies under our aegis, operate within these policy and guidance frameworks but have discretion in determining how energy efficiency measures are implemented within our respective operations, subject to constraints such as those outlined above.
