The Irish government has announced a €48 million investment in the retrofit of five HSE sites across the country in an effort to “decarbonise” them and reduce their “carbon footprint”.
This funding will come from the EU’s REPowerEU programme, as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and is aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions within the public healthcare sector.
The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is part of the EU’s plan to lead countries to “emerge stronger and more resilient from Coronavirus.” This RFF in turn funds the NRRP, under which Ireland will receive €1.15 billion in grants to prepare the country for “the green and digital transitions.”
It is from this fund that the €48 million investment in HSE retrofitting will come.
The initiative, known as the HSE Pilot Energy and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Project, represents the first deep retrofit of HSE facilities. Notably, approximately one-in-five public sector buildings are healthcare buildings.
Green Party Minister of State for Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation in the Public Sector, Ossian Smyth TD, expressed his support for the project in a statement today.
“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,” he said.
“It is important that the public sector leads the way in terms of energy efficiency and decarbonisation, and this is an excellent initiative.”
Meanwhile, Brian O’Connell, Interim National Director of HSE Capital and Estates, claimed that by “reducing emissions”, the HSE will “protect population health.”
“The HSE is delighted to receive this REPowerEU funding towards five HSE hospital and community sites,” he said.
“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 the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), also hailed the project, noting its alignment with the government’s climate goals, and saying that “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,” he said.
“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 allocated €48 million will be used for extensive energy system retrofits and building fabric upgrades at Lusk Community Nursing Unit, Baltinglass Community Nursing Unit, Clonakilty Community Nursing Unit, Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The project will be managed by HSE Capital and Estates.
However, one TD was not so enthusiastic about the plan.
“Would they ever consider the flights they take all over the world and the carbon footprints of those that they take on a regular basis at business class, including [Green Party leader] Eamon Ryan?” asked Independent Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath.
“With €48 million, there’s a lot that could be done for people waiting for hip and and cataract operations, rather than decarbonising hospital settings.”
He added: “It’s just more of the baloney and PR stunts that this government are engaged to appeal to the NGOs.”