Minister Smyth welcomes €48 million REPowerEU investment in retrofit of 5 HSE sites across the country
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From: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- Published on: 14 August 2024
- Last updated on: 9 September 2024
The Minister of State with responsibility for energy efficiency and decarbonisation in the public sector at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth, today welcomes REPowerEU funding under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) for an investment into a HSE Pilot Energy and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Project.
This project has been approved for €48 million of funding from Ireland's overall NRRP allocation of €1.15 billion, of which the REPowerEU allocation is €240 million. About 1 in 5 buildings in the public sector are healthcare buildings. The SEAI/HSE Pilot Energy and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Project is the first deep retrofit of HSE sites and will be critical in terms of providing learning and experience to the HSE, which has a vast national estate portfolio.
Welcoming the funding, Minister Smyth said:
"Increasing the energy efficiency of these facilities will improve the experience of those who use them – patients and staff – and will also help lower their carbon footprint. It is important that the public sector leads the way in terms of energy efficiency and decarbonisation and this is an excellent initiative."
Mr Brian O'Connell, Interim National Director, HSE Capital and Estates, commented:
"The HSE is delighted to receive this REPowerEU funding towards 5 HSE hospital and community sites. This will help the HSE deliver our Pilot Energy and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Project, build on existing work with our built environment and ultimately help to reduce emissions and protect population health."
Declan Meally, Director of Business, Public Sector and Transport at SEAI, said:
"SEAI is working in partnership with the HSE through our SEAI Pathfinder Programme to achieve ambitious targets set out in the National Climate Action Plan. We are delighted to support this Pilot Energy and Decarbonisation Pathfinder that has a goal to inform a broader national retrofit programme across the HSE estate. The comprehensive energy system retrofits and building fabric upgrades across healthcare facilities will not only reduce carbon emissions but also enhance the sustainability and efficiency of our healthcare infrastructure. Together, we are paving the way for a more sustainable future.
"The scale of the challenge we face in retrofitting our public building stock is enormous and this project is an important first step in that process. Aside from the sectoral emissions ceiling under the Climate Act, there are onerous targets for the public sector under newly negotiated EU Directives on energy efficiency, energy performance in buildings and renewable energy. Large investments will be required for these targets to be achieved. Furthermore, it is an accepted principle that the public sector must lead by example."
The REPowerEU allocation of €48 million will be directed to 5 HSE sites: Lusk Community Nursing Unit, Baltinglass Community Nursing Unit, Clonakilty Community Nursing Unit, Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. HSE Capital and Estates will lead out on this.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
- The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU – the EU's plan to emerge stronger and more resilient from COVID-19
- The funds are provided to Member States to implement reforms and investments to make their economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and prepared for the green and digital transitions
- The RRF is also crucial for implementing the REPowerEU plan – the Commission's response to the socio-economic hardships and global energy market disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine
- Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded by the RRF, sets out the reforms and investments to make our economy greener, digital and more resilient
- Under the modified NRRP, Ireland will receive €1.15 billion in grants covering the priorities of Advancing the Green Transition, Accelerating and Expanding Digital Reforms and Transformation, Social and Economic Recovery and Job Creation and REPowerEU
- The funding for this project is part of the recently approved €240 million REPowerEU programme under the NRRP
- The €48 million funding comes under the REPowerEU programme of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) for an investment into a HSE Pilot Energy and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Project on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and supported by the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)