Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
1323. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if there are solar panels in place on the rooftop or within the grounds of his Department building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30703/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1324. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30721/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1325. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30758/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1329. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the position regarding any buildings operated and owned by his Department that have solar panels in place to support the energy demands of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30849/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1323, 1324, 1325 and 1329 together.
My Department operates across a number of office spaces, with three significant office spaces, namely, Trinity Point, Dublin 2; Government Buildings, Ballina, and; Na Forbacha, County Galway. These buildings are owned by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Department is a tenant in each of them. It should be noted that the Department is the only tenant in the Na Forbacha building, the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government is the lead tenant in Ballina, and the Houses of the Oireachtas is the lead tenant in Trinity Point.
There are currently no solar panels on any of these buildings. Installation of panels was planned in Government Buildings, Ballina, however the roof structure was ultimately deemed not suitable.
With regard to energy efficiency measures, my Department is committed to meeting its obligations under the Climate Action Plan and Public Sector Climate Action Mandate. Central to this is the Department’s annual Climate Action Roadmap, which is available on my Department's website. The Roadmap provides a framework through which my Department seeks to meet its target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51% by 2030 and to improve energy efficiency beyond the 33% target in 2020 to 50% by 2030.
My Department is making considerable progress in this regard, with the most recent information provided by the OPW for Trinity Point finding that energy consumption has reduced by 40% compared to the baseline year of 2019.
The Department will continue to work with OPW and the lead tenants in relevant buildings with regard to energy efficiency measures, including the potential for measures such as solar panels.
