FRONT COVER LAN Dec. 2016 07/11/2016 16:56 Page 1
LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
• Optimising Power @ Work in Local Authority Buildings • Delivering Open Data, the easy way • Retrofitting of Social Homes Energy Costs are a major draw on a Social Housing Tenants Income • Donegal County Council is currently embarking on a 4 year Invasive Alien Plant Species treatment programme
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CONTENTS VOL. 35 No 5
FEATURES OPTIMISING POWER @ WORK IN LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDINGS
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OP@W WORKING WITH RESOURCEKRAFT TO MEASURE AND MANAGE ENERGY USE 11 Published by:
KINGSPAN RETROFIT A TRUSTED PARTNER 12 GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH. Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie
Designed & produced by Donnelly Design & Print Ltd. Tel: 046 - 9091891
ESRI DELIVERING OPEN DATA, THE EASY 13 WAY STORAGE SOLUTIONS: UPGRADING STORAGE HEATING SYSTEMS
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MINISTER COVENEY LAUNCHES PILLAR 2 17 UNDER REBUILDING IRELAND RETROFITTING OF SOCIAL HOMES ENERGY COSTS ARE A MAJOR DRAW ON A SOCIAL 19 HOUSING TENANTS INCOME
ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LAN is available FREE OF CHARGE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland. Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, StateSponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.
GRANT LEADS THE WAY IN SUSTAINABILE 24 HEATING ALTERNATIVES COUNCIL INTRODUCING 4 YEAR INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES TREATMENT PROGRAMME 25 ON PUBLIC ROADS CONCRETE TICKET – FORMAL TRAINING FOR OPERATIVES WORKING WITH 28 CONCRETE IN IRELAND OFFICIAL OPENING OF NEREDA WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN CARRIGTWOHILL, IRELAND
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AQS ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS WINS 30 FLEET TRANSPORT AWARD BUSINESS OWNERS ARE STRESSED BY 31 COSTS.
REGULARS DEPARTMENT BREIFS
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CLASSIFIEDS
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Optimising Power @ Work in Local Authority Buildings By Conor Clarke & Brónagh Sherlock
Irish public sector bodies are required by law to improve their energy efficiency by 33% by 2020. Upgrade and refurbishment works have been the core focus of engineers and facilities managers to achieve energy efficiency improvements, and it is often overlooked that savings can be made quite simply by optimising existing control systems, developing staff awareness and promoting behavioural change of the building occupants. These areas help eliminate energy wastage and should be fully exploited before looking at high capital expenditure/long payback interventional works. Through its Optimising Power @ Work scheme the Office of Public Works (OPW) has been targeting and realising savings in its own portfolio of buildings, creating a culture of ʻno energy wastageʼ, over the past number of years. To date, Optimising Power @ Work has delivered average energy savings of 20% per annum in buildings participating in the scheme. The programme offers a very high return on investment of typically four to one.
While most members of the public associate the OPW with heritage buildings and flood relief, one of the primary functions of the organisation is property management. The OPW manages one of the largest property portfolios in the state comprising more than 2,500 buildings. Of these, there are approximately 270 large buildings (>1,000m2) providing accommodation for staff in central government departments and some state agencies. The OPW is responsible for the maintenance of the majority of the buildings, and occupying departments pay for their own energy.
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www.corkcoco.ie
L – R Facilities Manager Cork County Council Paul Finnerty, Energy Office Cork County Council Brian Ahern, Chief Executive Cork County Council Tim Lucey, Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Seamus McGrath, Energy Office Cork County Council Alex Grassick & Director of Service Environment Cork County Council Louis Duffy.
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In the early 2000s the OPW embarked on a programme to install Energy Monitoring Systems in almost 250 central government buildings. The EMS collected data from electrical and thermal (gas/oil) meters in each building. A pilot study was run in ten buildings to ascertain the potential energy savings a typical office building might offer, by engaging with staff, optimising existing controls and eliminating energy wastage. The key findings of this pilot study were as follows: 1.
All buildings included in the pilot study had significant electrical consumption during unoccupied periods. “Out of Hours” consumption was about 50%. That is, approximately half of the electrical energy consumed in the buildings was consumed at night and over weekends, when the buildings were unoccupied.
Breakdown of electricity consumption for 5 buildings participating in the pilot study. Out of Hours consumption is on average 50%, indicating high energy wastage.
2. 3.
4. 5.
Out-of-hours audits were an effective means of identifying areas for substantial savings, through switching off equipment that was running unnecessarily. Staff in the buildings have a direct influence on electrical consumption. Key messages such as ʻswitch offʼ and, if it canʼt be switched off ʻturn it off as soon as possibleʼ allow motivated staff to deliver savings. Energy aware staff can identify areas for no-cost energy savings. Savings of up to 19% were achieved in the pilot study buildings.
Using the learnings from this pilot study, the OPW launched a state-wide staff energy conservation campaign, Optimising Power @ Work (OP@W), across its building portfolio. Optimising Power @ Work was established to intensively work with staff to encourage behavioural change with regard to energy usage, with the overall aim of identifying and eliminating energy wastage. The central government campaign now operates in approximately 270 large buildings managed by the OPW throughout the country. Optimising Power @ Work has developed around the following three key elements: 1.Technology: Dedicated Energy Monitoring Systems (EMS) record electrical and thermal energy consumption data in each building, at 15 minute intervals. The data is stored on the OPWʼs open source database, the Central Energy Data Repository (CEDaR). A number of data analysis packages may also be used to analyse the data and generate energy reports and alerts. 2. Specialist Expertise: An OP@W Energy Specialist is appointed to each building, to work with the energy team for the entire duration of the campaign. The Energy Specialist assesses the historic energy performance of the facility and sets energy saving targets for the building. The performance of the building is measured against these targets, via the online EMS. The Energy Specialist prepares regular energy reports and presents recommendations at each energy team meeting. The Energy
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Louth County Council acknowledges the financial assistance provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI) in facilitating the provision of the new and upgraded Building Management System (BMS) installed in Dundalk Town Hall, through the Better Energy Community Programme. The building specific operational control, that the new BMS system provides, together with the ongoing OPW support from participation in the Optimizing Power @ Work scheme, has resulted in significant energy savings in the Town Hall. The delivery of these savings demonstrates the Councils commitment to ensuring a continual improvement in our energy consumption and achievement of the National Energy Action Plan targets set down for 2020.
www.louthcoco.ie
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Specialist offers an insight into where energy savings may be achieved, through no or low-cost measures, by conducting energy audits, out-of-hours energy audits, BMS audits, and engaging with staff members. 3. Staff Engagement: An active energy team is established in each building comprising key stakeholders from different business functions within the organisation - a typical energy team might have representatives from the various departments/floors within the building, as well as a representative from IT, cleaning staff, and security staff. The Energy Specialist intensively engages with the energy team and staff in the building on a continuous basis to identify areas where energy can be saved. Motivated and energy aware staff can identify areas for no-cost energy savings. Endorsement at a senior level in each building has been fundamental to the success of the campaign. Senior Management buy-in facilitates the establishment of the on-site energy team, encourages staff to explore energy saving opportunities and empowers them to take action. Initiatives such as reducing carpark lighting hours and PC shutdown policies, implemented by staff energy teams under the guidance of an energy specialist, have yielded savings of up to 21% on total electricity consumption and 40% on external lighting respectively in some buildings. Staff Engagement is the key component of Optimising Power @ Work. After approximately 2 years of the campaign the level of engagement was classified in each building under the following headings – excellent, good, fair, and not engaged. As shown in the graph below, there was a direct correlation between the level of staff engagement with Optimising Power @ Work, and the average savings achieved.
Where the level of engagement in the buildings was classed as ʻExcellentʼ, the annual savings were on average 19 per cent. The average annual savings then decreased to 12 per cent and 2 per cent where the engagement was deemed to be ʻGoodʼ and ʻFairʼ respectively. In buildings that were not participating, but were being monitored, the energy consumption increased by 11 per cent. Optimising Power @ Work is now delivering average savings of 20% per annum in participating buildings. The “Department of Public Expenditure and Reform” in conjunction with the “Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment” has provided funding for the roll out of Optimising Power @ Work to buildings in the wider public sector. In 2014, the OPW launched Optimising Power @ Work in the wider public sector portfolio, and is presently working with the Health Service Executive, the Irish Prison Service, Universities, Institutes of Technology, and a large number of Local Authorities nationwide. The following Local Authorities are now actively participating in Optimising Power @ Work: Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Galway City Council, Kildare County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Laois County Council, Louth County Council, and South Dublin County Council/CODEMA - while a number of others will
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soon join the programme. Collectively, these sites have harnessed an average saving of 6% since commencing the campaign, through availing of Optimising Power @ Work supports including the provision of a specialist energy advisor for the duration of the campaign, installation of energy monitoring & targeting systems, regular energy team meetings, monthly reports, out-of-hours and Building Management System (BMS) audits, energy awareness days, staff workshops, and themed promotional materials. The OPW launched Optimising Power @ Work with Cork City Council in 2015. In Cork City Hall significant energy savings had already been achieved, however the staff have reduced their energy consumption by a further 5.3% through participation in OP@W. Regular Energy Team Meetings and Energy Awareness Days promote energy awareness, identify energy saving opportunities and encourage large scale staff involvement. E-mails are sent at regular intervals to inform staff of energy saving opportunities such as PC shut-down and switching off monitors to encourage participation.
Typical Energy Awareness Day
The Energy Monitoring System allows the local Energy Team to focus their attention on daily gas usage, investigating out of hoursĘź consumption to ensure the heating time schedules match the occupancy profile. Furthermore, regular BMS Audits ensure that time schedules are monitored and amended with no compromise
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to comfort levels. Heating is now off for summer, bank holidays and weekends, and set back in milder weather. A comprehensive lighting audit allowed for energy intensive halogen column lamps to be switched off during daylight hours. Louth County Council also joined Optimising Power @ Work to promote and achieve best practice energy efficiency on site. The Town Hall building uses energy primarily for heating, cooling and office equipment with significant energy use associated with the out of hourĘźs operation of the theatre and art gallery. Under the guidance of the Optimising Power @ Work Energy Specialist, Louth County Council undertook a range of initiatives to improve the energy performance of the Town Hall and as a result total energy consumption on site has decreased 25.8% over the last 12 months compared with the benchmark year of 2014.
Louth CC daily gas (above) and electricity (below) profiles before and after joining the Optimising Power @ Work campaign.
Following upgrade of the BMS on site, the system was optimised to allow more accurate scheduling of the space heating system. Boiler sequencing was implemented in line with the buildingʟs heat demand, resulting in only 3 of the 6 installed boilers needing to run in order to provide sufficient heat output. A summer shutdown of heating was implemented where previously the BMS weather compensation was expected to manage the heating system in response to the outside air temperature alone. The controls on the chiller were altered so that it now only operates to maintain comfort levels during spells of warm weather. Additionally, a boost facility is now in place for heating in the theatre with remote access for the theatre management. Heating is now controlled independently and aligned more closely to theatre events. Regular Building Management System (BMS) Audits now ensure that time schedules are monitored and amended with no compromise to comfort levels. These measures have reduced thermal consumption by 31% over the last 12 months. Louth County Council holds regular energy team meetings to discuss and implement further energy saving opportunities on site. Optimising Power @ Work Energy Awareness Days and promotional material for staff help to stimulate awareness and maintain momentum of the behavioural change campaign, which has achieved electrical savings of 11% to date. Kilkenny County Council have achieved electrical savings of 9% since joining the Optimising Power @ Work campaign. As well as a lighting upgrade project, the active energy team on site have also facilitated the following Optimising Power @ Work activities – programme launch and awareness day, working group meetings on site and preliminary and night time energy audits.
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Kilkenny County Council County Hall Annual Electricity Profile.
Following a comprehensive night time energy audit, an out of hourʼs energy report was drafted which highlighted areas of out of hourʼs consumption and wastage. The report and findings were presented to the energy team, who implemented the suggested actions. Despite initial difficulties with a new BMS system on site, staff training and regular BMS audits and tweaking to reflect weather conditions and public holidays will continue to generate additional savings on site. The campaign has been tailored for each site, however the three core principles remain the same – technology, specialist expertise and staff engagement. While the level of savings varies across each site, initial audits and analysis suggest that savings in line with those demonstrated in the central government portfolio will be achieved in the participating Local Authority buildings nationwide. The Irish Public Sector has been given an ambitious target of improving energy efficiency by 33% by 2020. The OPWʼs Optimising Power @ Work campaign has illustrated that the best return on investment will be achieved through a programme of behavioural change, control optimisation and eliminating energy wastage. Establishing control of energy usage and minimising unnecessary consumption should be a primary consideration for any energy management plan. Once wastage is eliminated, the next step in any cohesive energy efficiency plan will be capital projects. The OPWʼs Optimising Power @ Work campaign has demonstrated that savings of up to 20% are possible in the workplace through no or low cost behavioural change measures, proving that staff energy awareness and targeting energy wastage can make a significant contribution to the efforts of Local Authorities in reaching their 2020 33% energy efficiency target.
To find out more about Optimising Power @ Work or to enquire about joining the campaign please contact: bronagh.sherlock@opw-energy.ie / 01 647 6383.
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OP@W working with ResourceKraft to Measure and Manage Energy use The OP@W scheme has successfully delivered 18% energy savings for OPW operated buildings in 4 years. Following this tremendous success, OPW is expanding this free programme to the largest office in each local authority to aid their drive to NEEAP 2020 targets. OP@W turned to ResourceKraft as their specialist external technical service provider of the equipment and software needed to measure and manage energy use. As an Irish company, ResourceKraft will be familiar to many Local Authority Energy Managers, where our systems have provided the data driven metrics they have used to engage office staff in managerial and behavioural change. ResourceKraft now offers the opportunity for local authority bodies to scale the OP@W system outside of their main office. This will provide all the necessary equipment and support to measure and manage all of their large energy consumers, such as Leisure Centres, major buildings and plant, throughout the city or county. As Brian Ahern, Cork County Councilʼs Energy Manager, commented “This new opportunity will allow us to operate the proven OP@W system across our estate”. A local authority regional office under this scheme identified the Building Management System (BMS). It had the heating and cooling systems on for 12 hours a day Heating was coming on in September and off in May. By changing the BMS settings a 12% reduction in total building energy/CO2 was achieved. Further investigation found that most PCs and Printers/Copiers were also left on. A change in office procedures and an attentive management have managed another 8% reduction in CO2 from this, painlessly delivering 2/3rds of their 2020 target. Leisure Centres, as some of the largest energy users offer potential for substantial savings. While the most important time to act is in the design phase, much can be done with greater visibility and improving operating practice. Electricity, Water and Gas are very significant costs and essential to measure. Generated heat can be measured as it is distributed around the complex, separating pool from heating and hot water. When measuring, what was hidden becomes visible and you will immediately start to see the areas of low cost savings. Recently a Leisure Centre installed a ResourceKraft system. Benchmark water use averaged 73M³ a day. Quickly a jammed level valve in the filtration system was identified, found and repaired, reducing water use to 36M³ a day. An analysis of the water bills and water meter readings indicated this had been ongoing for over 6 months at a cost of over €15,000. That resulted in a Return on Investment for the ResourceKraft system of just 2 weeks. While this is technical, it is also straightforward. So, do call ResourceKraft who will bring you through the process.
Phone: 01 905 2999 or Email: sales@resourcekraft.com LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
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Kingspan Retrofit a Trusted Partner Following Budget 2017 on 10th October 2016, Minister for Energy Denis Naughten, TD has announced that Better Energy Communities will be back in 2017 with an increased budget. The scheme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), has supported 300 community energy efficiency projects over the last five years. As a result over 15,000 homes and hundreds of community, private and public buildings have received energy efficiency upgrades, supporting several hundred jobs each year. At Kingspan Retrofit we are an approved SEAI counterparty with vast experience in this area; our objective is to help local authorities in the Creation, Approval & Delivery of your Better Energy Community Scheme. When the benefits are so great and there is so much to be gained locally, Kingspan Retrofit are a trusted partner in the Better Energy Community Schemes we have years of experience and have worked closely with a number of Local county Councils across Ireland to help them achieve high quality project.
Call us today to find our more information contact us today on 042 975 4262 or email us on sales@kingspanretrofit.ie
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Delivering Open Data, the easy way How Roscommon County Council has significantly reduced the cost and complexity of publishing Open Data, using a cloud-based GIS solution with prebuilt, ready-to-use templates. When the term Open Data was first coined, it was little more than an ideal. It expressed a desire, shared by governments around Europe and beyond, to be more transparent and to make public data ‘open’ and accessible to everyone. Now, that ideal is becoming real. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has responsibility for leading Ireland’s Open Data initiative and recently established an Open Data Governance Board to drive the implementation of a national strategy. It has launched Ireland’s open data portal (data.gov.ie), now containing over 4500 datasets, and all public bodies will soon be required to produce Open Data Publication Plans. It is only a matter of time before Open Data compliance will be mandatory, but the vast majority of local authorities in Ireland simply aren’t ready. The challenges that loom in the path of Open Data can seem daunting. Not least: how can councils overcome the administrative and technical obstacles to making vast data volumes available in multiple open formats in accordance with open standards? How, in the context of government austerity, can existing staff members deliver Open Data for local, national and European portals, with limited time and constrained budgets? And how, after dozens of data sets are published, can councils ensure that the information in them is always up-to-date? One council in Ireland has pre-empted and overcome these challenges. Two years ago, when the Open Data agenda was just starting to take shape, Roscommon County Council launched its own Open Data Portal and, soon afterwards, it became the first local authority to have its data published on data.gov.ie.
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TECHNICAL OBSTACLES: REMOVED Roscommon County Council obliterated all of the technical obstacles to publishing Open Data by using the pre-built, ready-to-use templates that are available as a standard part of Esri’s ArcGIS Online solution. As a cloud solution, ArcGIS Online requires no onsite hardware infrastructure, no on-site data storage and no system maintenance, so it was relatively quick for the council to create an Open Data presence once it had done the work in creating and publishing relevant datasets. In addition, the council doesn’t have to worry about exporting its data in multiple formats, as all of the data conversion occurs automatically. Today, Roscommon County Council has over 80 data sets available on its Open Data Portal, including non-spatial data sets such as annual budget information.
RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS: REMOVED Publishing Open Data hasn’t created a huge amount of additional work for council employees, because ArcGIS Online integrates with the council’s existing enterprise database, based on the Esri ArcGIS Platform. Whenever the council publishes a new data set to its ArcGIS Online instance, it can decide to share it out through the Open Data Portal with a click of a button. What is more, the council doesn’t need to separately republish the same data to the national and European data portals; by adhering to agreed metadata standards the Open Data is harvested directly from the council’s Portal by data.gov.ie and the EU equivalent, europeandataportal.eu, with no manual intervention at all. SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS: REMOVED What Roscommon County Council has shown is that Open Data does not need to be a separate project, requiring its own budget and resources. With the right systems in place, an update to the recycling centre data set, for instance, made by an employee in the Environment Section, can be saved into the council’s enterprise database, made immediately available through the council’s own Open Data Portal and promptly harvested by data.gov.ie. “The sustainability of any Open Data initiative, whether local or national, is dependent on an organisation’s supporting data governance strategies and methodologies,” says Barry Doyle, GIS Manager at Roscommon County Council. “If data is being managed well in the first place, making it ‘open’ is no extra burden.” Without doubt, the experience at Roscommon County Council shows that commonly cited obstacles to Open Data can not only be overcome; they can be removed entirely, so that creating, publishing and maintaining Open Data becomes Business As Usual.
Interested to know more contact: mapsmakesense@esri-ireland.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
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Storage Solutions: Upgrading Storage Heating Systems With better technology, improved controllability and more efficient operation, electric heating remains an effective and increasingly cost-efficient option for heating domestic properties. According to the CSO 140,000 properties or 10 per cent of the total properties, are heated by electric appliances and penetration is particularly high in public buildings where gas supply is often not available. Despite the developments in research and development, too many homeowners and social housing customers still rely on existing heating systems. Outdated storage heating technology, which barely changed in 30 years until the Dimplex Quantum heater was launched in 2012, remains common, particularly in public buildings. Refurbishment and replacement with the latest energy efficient heating solutions can deliver up to 27% cost savings for customers and help to reduce long term maintenance and repair costs too. A Quantum leap With no comparative product on the market, the most efficient solution for replacing storage heating systems is Dimplexʟs Quantum space heater, which was billed by the industry as the biggest innovation in electric heating in the last 20 years when it was released in 2012. Quantum gives users the chance to use stored heat as and when they need it with easy-to-use controls and can tap into cheaper, lower carbon off-peak electricity to help customers to cut their energy bills. With a patented iQ controller, 10 year warranty and the development of the Quantum Cylinder for energy efficient hot water heating, it is no surprise that the Quantum system has taken the market by storm. Direct Acting Some manufacturers will boldly state that direct acting electric heaters, commonly referred to as electric radiators, aluminium radiators or panel convector heaters, are the ideal replacement for storage heaters. Put simply, it is not always the case – and specifiers must recognise this. As leaders in electric heating with a wide range of solutions including both storage and panel heaters, Dimplex is well placed to advise and whilst direct acting heating is undoubtedly the best option for some rooms, it is not always better than storage. It is vital to understand that rooms with high occupancy may require 10- 16 hours of heating per day, will always find it cheaper to have storage heaters. Simply put Quantum uses exclusively night rate cheaper electricity while direct acting heaters cost twice as much for the same amount of heat. Recent Quantum upgrades include DSP Intreo offices in Westport & Letterkenny and OPW offices in Fitzwilliam Square.
For more information, call 01 842 4277 or email sales@dimplex.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
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Minister Coveney Launches Pillar 2 under Rebuilding Ireland – Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness New up-front Part V funding to be provided from next year - €140M New Repair & Leasing Scheme €6m to kick-start in 2017 - €140M to 2021 New Buy and Renew initiative €25m in 2017 rising up to €50m in 2018 €13m additional funding for extra 750 voids – 2,000 to be delivered this year. On site 2016; 117 separate build projects delivering 1,600 units; this includes 76 separate LA projects delivering 920 units, & 41 separate Approved Housing Body (AHB) build projects delivering 680 units. Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, has outlined the details of Pillar 2 ʻAccelerate Social Housingʼ under “Rebuilding Ireland – an Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness”. The Action Plan was launched on 19 July and today the Minister will outline the detail and progress on Pillar 2 since the launch. Minister Coveney was joined by Ministers of State, Damien English and Catherine Byrne at Charlemont Street where Dublin City Council is engaged in a major Private Public Partnership (PPP) scheme which will supply homes for families on the housing waiting list. Earlier on he had visited an award winning social housing scheme on Maxwell Road, Rathmines. Rebuilding Ireland sets ambitious targets to double the annual level of residential construction to 25,000 homes and deliver 47,000 units of social housing in the period to 2021, while at the same time making the best use of the existing housing stock and laying the foundations for a more vibrant and responsive private rented sector “There has been much commentary around the fact that last year Local Authorities only built 75 homes, even though we provided accommodation for 13,000 families through all the delivery programmes.We will increase on that this year as we roll out the Action Plan and we will deliver homes for families on the
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waiting lists. Local Authorities have recruited 500 necessary staffand they now have a pipeline of projects that will be delivered as quickly as possible. Since May I have approved projects with a value of €150m, which will see 800 homes delivered. In 2017 local authorities & approved housing bodies will provide 5,050 homes through building, buying & leasing. This will be a major kick start to the delivery of 47,000 social homes at a cost of €5.35 billion by the end of 2021 which is a key priority for me,” said Minister Coveney. Some of the main commitments under Pillar 2: • • • • • • • • • •
47,000 social housing units delivered by 2021, supported by investment of €5.35 billion Accelerated Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) delivery – [12,000 in 2016 and 15,000 in 2017] Mixed-tenure developments on State lands and other lands Establishment of a dedicated Housing Delivery Office and Housing Procurement Unit Extensive supports for Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies – e.g. AHB Innovation Fund Streamlined approval processes (e.g. Part 8 planning) Housing for specific groups: meeting the needs of the vulnerable. Increased target for Housing Adaptation Grants drawdown [increasing from 8,000 in 2016 to 10,000 in 2017] Pilots to support innovative design and housing solutions for older people Extending National Housing Strategy for People with Disabilities beyond its 2016 timeframe out to 2020
“If we are to achieve two of the core objectives of the Action Plan – increasing supply to a minimum of 25,000 homes per annum and providing the 47,000 social homes committed to we must speed up the mechanism and processes that lead to housing delivery. I have outlined today details of some of the new mechanisms which will assist in the early delivery of homes for families on local authority waiting lists. We need to change our mindsets and think outside the box when it comes to delivering homes. I have also recently published outline legislation to speed up the planning process. “Earlier today I visited an award winning social housing scheme on Maxwell Road off the Rathmines Road. This scheme is a great advertisement of how we can integrate social and private housing. But itʻs not just integration that we should be concerned with. We need to future proof our social housing schemes for all eventualities and this should include family types, elderly people and people with disabilities. Officials in my Department are examining how we might better deal with these matters in larger social housing schemes,” ended Minister Coveney. The Plan is ultimately focussed on delivering more homes for the people who need them. It includes over 80 separate actions structured under five main Pillars of concerted actions right across Government. • • • • •
Address Homelessness, Accelerate Social Housing, Build More Homes, Improve the Rental sector, and Utilise Existing Housing.
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Retrofitting of Social Homes Ener g y Costs are a major dr aw on a Social Housing Tenants Income Some of the older houses, apartments and community buildings that comprise the Irish Social housing stock are a product of the age when they were built. They are largely heated by storage heating, back boilers or in the case of later builds gas or oil boilers which are now proving to be inefficient and thus more expensive to run. With the poor heat retention of the older structures, heating them is labour and material intensive and costly for the tenants.
St Johns Park Waterford
Retrofitting the structures with insulation, modern windows and heat pumps lowers the running cost and improves quality of life for the occupant by allowing a greater availability of heat at a fraction of the previous cost and much less physical effort. Storage of fuel and disposal of ashes etc. is also reduced or totally removed. Experience has shown that the occupant tends to become more energy conscious as less of their disposable income is spent on heating due to the higher level of comfort and control. Upgrading these dwellings leads, not only to a warmer more comfortable home, but happier and healthier occupants in a much improved BER rated structure and a significant step towards meeting IrelandĘźs carbon emissions reduction targets. Through the umbrella of the BEC Scheme a Project Co-Ordinator manages all the skill sets needed to retrofit the occupied dwellings. The Project Co-Ordinator for the recent works carried out in Waterford in 2015 and Cork in 2016 were EnviroBead based in Mallow, Co. Cork. Their experienced team normally consists of heating specialists, window fitters, insulation fitters, electricians, labourers, contract managers etc.
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The Contractor: Envirobead Niall McCarthy of EnviroBead partnered with Respond Housing Association on the SEAI Better Energy Communities (BEC) Scheme to enable Respond progress the Energy Efficiency upgrades to their existing housing stock. Working together, the Respond Management team and EnviroBead, set about identifying suitable properties and compiling the information required by SEAI for the BEC scheme applications. As Project Co-ordinator, EnviroBead's role was to manage the project from inception, through to successful completion. A key element for EnviroBead, was to liaise with the Respond tenants in the housing units, informing them of the proposed works, and scheduling the works in such a manner, so as to minimise the disruption to the tenants throughout the project. EnviroBead used their extensive experience in the energy efficiency industry to engage with Energy Providers, to obtain part funding for the projects in return for the Energy Credits generated on the projects. EnviroBead also used its excellent working relationships with sub-contractors, and market leading suppliers (such as Daikin for the heat pumps), to obtain extremely competitive prices, thus increasing the financial competitiveness of the projects. Over the past number of years, EnviroBead have worked successfully with Respond on a number of BEC projects, obtaining up to 60% funding for Respond's Energy Efficiency Upgrade works.
The Client: Respond Housing Association Established in 1982, with a current housing stock of in excess of 4000 units, Respond Housing Association have been very proactive carrying out deep retrofits over a number of years. 2015 saw Respond carry out various BEC schemes to allow hundreds of homes to be upgraded from BER G rating to BER B rating in Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford to name a few. In 2016 units are being installed in Cork City and County estates. The homes received Daikin Altherma air to water heat pumps, LED lighting upgrades, attic space insulation, wall pumped insulation, inset solid fuel stoves and new external doors and windows. Most of the refurbishments were single and two -storey units built in the early 1990s and were in need of refurbishment. The wall construction is a normally cavity wall with (by todayĘźs standards) a minimum of insulation and, until the upgrade, the primary heating system was open fire and back boiler. Aside from poor thermal performance, the buildings themselves on a Asset Management basis were due an upgrade.
Beechpark Tramore Co Waterford
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The homes were assessed by Respondʼs Property Team and Regional Managers with respect to their requirement and suitability for an upgrade and application was made to be included in SEAI Better Energy Community Scheme 2015 and again in 2016. Respondʼs Technical Service Officers comment Respond Housing places our tenantsʼ needs at the heart of our business. We are committed to maintaining and upgrading our housing stock throughout the country, for now and into the future. Of primary importance to us is alleviating fuel poverty faced by our residents. Energy upgrades mean vastly reduced heating bills for residents particularly when gas and electricity costs are rising. This in turn leads to greater disposable income for our residents as well as warmer, more comfortable homes. Energy upgrades are a win-win for the resident, the housing provider, the contractor, the local economy and the wider environment. When it comes to properties to be re-furbished heat pumps are our first option considered, when selecting a replacement heating and hot water system. Respondʼs Head of Property states: “Respond are very happy with the quality and professionalism and back-up supplied during the fit-out and afterwards by Envirobead and in particular Daiken and their colleagues. We hope to repeat these works in further developments.”
The Occupants The teamʼs experience has created awareness that change is a significant challenge to many occupants, so time was taken to meet the residents of each estate, as a group, to make them aware of the proposed works and how they would benefit. They were assured and given costs showing that their heating bills would reduce very significantly and their comfort levels would rise as significantly. How the heat pumps worked and how they could easily control their usage was emphasised and repeated as necessary with the installer providing individual instruction as and when required. With the simple-to-use Daikin controller, most were quickly put at ease. Most tenants have a clear knowledge of their heating costs and very quickly they begin to understand that they are now fuel rich rather than fuel poor, with income released to help them live better and healthier. For the Asset Management of the dwellings, the Daikin Altherma units record how much energy they use and an easy calculation will identify actual cost so the Housing Association or County Council can monitor fuel costs and soft outcomes such as tenant well-being.
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As one of Respondʼs tenants has said: “The upgrade of our heating system has meant my familyʼs house is more pleasant to live in and cheaper to run. We do not fear the onset of the winter now as we know weʼll be able to cope”
The Heating Contractors: RTS Heating & Cooling RTS run by Hugh Foley are a long established heating installation company, and installer of Altherma air source heat pumps. RTS was awarded the contract to install the heat pumps for the properties in Co. Waterford and Co. Cork. RTS have vast experience in heat pump technology and were able to provide expertise ensuring that each property had exactly the right Daikin Altherma configuration using the existing radiators to provide all round heating and hot water. Daikin Altherma was chosen by RTS/Envirobead/Respond because we evaluated it to be the best system available. The results we have seen from the installations have been impressive in terms of running costs, as well as this, the cost of installation was actually lower than a new solid fuel system. As the houses/apartments were occupied during the project the workmanship of the contractors is critical, friendly relationships were built to make everyoneʼs life easier.
The installation team understood that their workplace is someoneʼs home and that behaviour and procedures that are acceptable on a building site are unacceptable on these projects. They work with the occupier to reduce the effect of the temporary disruption necessary to improve their environment. The heat pump installation was the most complex measure to the home, RTS Heating and Cooling Services have installed heat pumps on Respond projects since 2012 and bring their technical, installation and client relationship experience to such projects. The installation went very smoothly, despite the tight programme, we managed to keep disruption to a minimum and residents have reported that they are very impressed with the new system.
Daikin (Ireland Office) 1 Orchard Business Centre, Orchard Avenue, Citywest, Dublin 24 T +353 (0) 1 642 3430 www.daikin.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
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GRANT LEADS THE WAY IN SUSTAINABILE HEATING ALTERNATIVES Leading boiler manufacturer, Grant Engineering has launched a new state-of-the-art heating appliance, the Grant VortexAir Oil Boiler Heat Pump Hybrid. After injecting significant investment into the research and development of this new product, the VortexAir is a proactive solution to help meet current building regulations. Set to revolutionise the heating industry, the Grant VortexAir Hybrid combines the trusted attributes of Grantʼs patented Vortex technology with the green advantage of an Aerona³ inverter driven air source heat pump, which Grant has sold for many years as a standalone heat pump in the UK. The unit comprises of the Grant Vortex Blue Max condensing oil boiler and the latest Grant air source heat pump. By using two heat sources to maximise system efficiency, the VortexAir Hybrid offers an innovative solution to homeowners off the gas grid when seeking a sustainable alternative to boiler replacements with minimal disruption to the home. The VortexAirʼs green advantage is enabling new builds to meet renewable obligations as required under building regulations. The amendments to the Part L of the Conservation of fuel and power regulations will set new standards for the energy performance of buildings and therefore enforce implications for compliance amongst installers and specifiers, the VortexAir is the first boiler to tackle this issue head first.
Stephen Grant, Founder, Grant Engineering is pictured at the National Ploughing Championships 2016 where the company officially launched the new Grant VortexAir Hybrid.
Grant Engineering Founder Stephen Grant said: “The launch of our new technologies signals Grantʼs attentiveness to the wider marketplace forces and our commitment to demonstrating our ability to withstand all legal, political, economic and environmental shifts. The introduction of our new innovative product lines is just the start of Grantʼs next generation and expansion strategy.” The new Grant VortexAir Hybrid is available from plumbing and heating merchants throughout Ireland. Think Boilers. Think Grant.
For further product information visit www.granteingineering.ie or call 0579126966 LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
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Council introducing 4 Year Invasive Plant Species Treatment Programme on Public Roads onegal County Council is currently embarking on a 4 year Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) treatment programme on public roads which will see contractors being appointed in the coming weeks.
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This follows on from a pilot project which was initiated in Donegal in 2015 to trial different treatment options for the eradication of invasive plants with a view to recommending the most effective, including cost effective, preferred option for future use. Invasive alien plants species are initially transported through human activities outside of their natural range and then survive, reproduce and spread. These species have negative impacts on the ecology of their new location and when growing close to road carriageways, these species can impact on sight lines, cause damage to the road infrastructure by growing up through the asphalt at the road edge and other structures. Speaking this week Brendan OʼDonnell Senior Engineer with Donegal County Council explained that the spread of non-native invasive plant species is an ever increasing problem facing local authorities not only in Ireland but across the world and one of the most problematic of the non-native species in Ireland is Japanese Knotweed which is highly invasive and extremely difficult to eradicate completely. Treatment Programme “The knowledge base around the most effective way to manage the spread of these plants is slowly increasing. Current treatment practices include spraying with herbicide, foliage removal & stem injection, stem injection and excavation & deep burial” says Brendan OʼDonnell. He adds “when treating with pesticide the timing of treatment is critical, as is the pesticide to be used. Late in the season just before the plant dies back for the winter appears to be the most effective. The primary objective of control is the total eradication by targeting the underground rhizome and not simply the aerial parts”. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has introduced an eradication programme on selected national roads this year and plan to treat knotweed infestations along entire routes and Donegal will be included in the first routes to be treated. In relation to non-national roads, Donegal County Council has set aside €50,000 in the 2016 Budget to treat roadside infestations and it is intended to set aside a similar amount annually until the spread of this plant is brought under control. It is expected that each infestation will need to be treated for a minimum of four years in succession to ensure eradication.
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Paul O'Donnell Tree Surgeon, Fencing & Spraying
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www.paulodonnelltreeservices.com CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE QUOTATION
In 2014 Kilkenny County Council joined forces with the OPW on implementing their Optimising Power @ Work energy awareness campaign. Through the initiative, those in County Hall are increasingly aware of energy use in the building and eliminating energy wastage. With assistance from the Sustainable Energy Authority of IrelandĘźs (SEAI) Better Energy Communities grant programme, Kilkenny County Hall has reduced energy consumption by installing energy efficient LED lighting together with a building management system for heating control and insulation upgrades. Kilkenny County Council is committed to reaching the 33% reduction in energy by 2020 as set out in the National Energy Action Plan and has implemented energy efficiency projects in all sections of the Council. Learnings from the energy awareness campaign will be replicated throughout the CouncilĘźs buildings.
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Kilkenny County Council would like to thank the SEAI, Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency and Carlow County Council for their assistance in the Better Energy Community grant scheme For more information on the 2017 Better Energy Community scheme please visit www.ckea.ie/bec
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“The Council is currently gathering information on the location and scale of knotweed infestations around the county and we will use this information to develop the treatment programme” explains Brendan OʼDonnell. “The full extent of knotweed infestations is not clear yet however anecdotal evidence would suggest that we are unlikely to be able to treat all infestations in the first years. We aim to have a contractor appointed in time for a treatment programme to commence in September and the use of specialised equipment will be needed for the majority of the infestations”. Signage Signage will be erected at all infestation sites as a means to managing the further spread of these plants. Knotweed is spread from plant fragments and a lack of awareness of the plant among those carrying out roadside hedge cutting is contributing to the spread and as a further management measure it is intended to erect signage at all infestation sites to help prevent them being cut. It will be necessary to continue to cut back hedges where existing infestations are blocking visibility or generally creating a hazard on the road network however, it is planned to do this cutting manually to avoid spreading the infestation and cuttings will continue to be left on site until an alternative disposal method can be agreed. Private Lands Many infestations span both public and private lands however the Council has no authority to treat infestations on private lands. In circumstances where an infestation is thought to have originated from the roadside and from there spread to private lands the Council intends to consult with the landowner to get their consent to allow the treatment of all of the infestation. Further information on this Treatment Programme is available at www.donegalcoco.ie and anyone concerned about Invasive Plant Species on their own land should get more information at invasivespeciesireland.com. If a member of the public becomes aware of an invasive plant species growing along our roads we would ask you to contact the Council at 074 91 53900 or email info@donegalcoco.ie or report it online at www.donegalcoco.ie
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Concrete Ticket – for mal tr aining for oper atives wor king with concrete in Ireland Achieving a high quality concrete building requires knowledge of the material from design through to construction on site. European and Irish Standards demand that concrete construction is carried out by operatives with the necessary skill and training. The Irish Concrete Society has announced the launch of the Concrete Ticket, a course which provides training for operatives working with concrete in Ireland. The Concrete Ticket is a half-day course which provides guidance on the correct ordering, handling, finishing and curing of concrete. Courses will be held across the country in classes not exceeding 20 and will include a formal assessment. Successful candidates will receive a photo card, the Concrete Ticket, which will be valid for 5 years. Who should attend? The Concrete Ticket is suitable for anyone responsible for receiving, placing and finishing concrete after its arrival on site. The course will also be of benefit to those who manufacture, transport, receive orders and dispatch ready-mixed concrete. It will also be of interest to those involved in the sale of concrete and to building inspectors / clerk of works. What's in the course? Course content is broken into 4 parts: Part 1 - Materials, Properties and Reinforcement. Part 2 - Ordering, Production, Delivery and Formwork. Part 3 - Placing, Compacting and Finishing. Part 4 - Curing, Protection and Joints. Followed by multiple choice question test. When is the course starting? Initial courses have been arranged in Cork and Dublin in early November 2016. Course will be held throughout the country thereafter. The course fee is ₏140 per delegate.
Bookings Contact the Irish Concrete Society at (041) 9876466, Emai: events@concrete.ie or online at www.concrete.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
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Official opening of Nereda wastewater treatment plant in Carrigtwohill, Ireland A new Nereda wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Carrigtwohill, Ireland was officially opened by Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister for State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, David Stanton on Monday 3rd October 2016. The contract for the construction of the treatment plant, which involved a circa €12 million investment by Irish Water, was awarded to an EPS – Sorensen Joint Venture partnership in June 2014. I
Irish Water regional operations manager Katherine Walshe and Minister of State David Stanton on a plant tour of the Carrigtwohill Wastewater Treatment Plant following its official opening
The plant is significant for a number of reasons not least the fact that it is the second plant in both Ireland and the UK to utilise the innovative Nereda biological wastewater treatment system. It can now treat waste for a population equivalent (PE) of 30,000 but has been designed to be able to double this capacity in stages. The project also involved upgrade works to three outlaying pump stations and a 1.5 km marine outfall. Carrigtwohill WWTP was successfully handed over to EPS Operations on the 18th May 2016 to begin a 20 year operate contract on behalf of Irish Water. The Nereda process has made this plant a key learning center for Irish and international clients. It is expected that as well as improved water quality and removal of existing health risks for the community, this new plant will unlock the capacity for further development in one of Corkʼs fastest growing satellite towns. Commenting on the project, Minister David Stanton said: “The increase in wastewater treatment capacity will allow for continued, future growth in population and economic activity, as well as in towns such as Castlemartyr, Cloyne, and Killeagh.” “Carrigtwohill is a major pharmaceutical and biotechnology hub and this project will enable new schools and housing developments, as well as attract future industry to the area” added Katherine Walshe, the regional operations manager with Irish Water. Michael OʼSullivan, Contracts Manager at EPS said: ʻEPS and Sorensen are delighted to be involved in such an innovative and locally beneficial project and are looking forward to supporting the community through the operate contract duration.ʼ
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AQS Environmental Solutions wins Fleet Transport Award AQS Environmental Solutions has won a Fleet Transport Award for its work to develop sustainable systems for transporting and managing waste. It was named the winner in the Environment category, which recognises companies that show excellence in developing responsible and innovative strategies and processes in fleet transport management. The award was presented to AQS Environmental Solutions, based in Thurles, Tipperary, one of Irelandʼs leading drainage and wastewater utility specialists, during a ceremony at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, last night.
From left to right: Jarlath Sweeney, Group Editor, Fleet Transport Publications; Dan FitzPatrick, Commercialisation Manager, Gas Networks Ireland; John Fahey, Transport Manager, AQS Environmental Solutions; Stan OʼReilly, Commercial Director, AQS Environmental Solutions; Marty Whelan, RTE radio and TV presenter.
Stan OʼReilly, Commercial Director for AQS Environmental Solutions, said: “This is a great moment for us. We are very pleased to be recognised for our continuing efforts to develop environmentally-sustainable services.
“A lot of credit must go to our transport manager, John Fahey, and the rest of the operational team, who have been at the forefront of developing business processes that allow us to save energy, minimise vehicle emissions and reduce our carbon footprint to zero.” The annual Fleet Transport Awards, celebrating their 10th anniversary, are organised by Fleet Transport Magazine, Irelandʼs leading commercial vehicle fleet management magazine. RTE radio & TV personality Marty Whelan presented the awards, while Verona Murphy, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, was guest speaker at the event attended by 850 representatives from the transport industry. AQS Environmental Solutions delivers a range of services for industrial, commercial and domestic customers. It also operates a waste processing plant which diverts 40,000 tonnes of waste a year away from landfill, turning it, instead, into compost that is used by farmers within a 20km radius of Thurles. The composting plant offsets the carbon emissions of our transport fleet and processes the waste locally, which reduces fuel consumption still further. It contributes to reducing emissions of landfill methane, and creates a useful by-product for the local farming community. This, in turn, reduces their need to bring in fertilising products from out-of-area, creating a second cycle of environmental benefits. AQS Environmental Solutions has invested €2 million in the last two years in the most fuel-efficient trucks, vans and supporting equipment, all of which reduce pollution and carbon emissions. The company is now part of Lanes Group plc, the UKʼs largest drainage and asset maintenance specialist. This is allowing it to invest in Europeʼs most advanced drainage technology, including recycler jet vac tankers. These significantly reduce consumption of water and fuel during drain cleaning and unblocking operations. The latest example has been the acquisition of a new €400,000 JHL SuperFlex machine. It has a split tank, allowing water to be filtered and reused multiple times. Waste sludge is then processed in the composting plant.
AQS Environmental Solutions, Archerstown Industrial Estate, Thurles Co. Tipperary Tel: +353 (0) 504 57800 W: www.aqssolutions.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
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Business Owners Are Stressed by Costs. LedLuxLighting knows that all businesses, including Public Bodies, Hospitably sectors and local business are stressed out by costs. Each of these sectors is a massive consumer of light and power. The most common types of traditional light fitting used is fluorescents in offices and 2D CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) typically found in corridors, staircases, storage areas and toilets There are three main issues with this type of Fitting 1. They generate a lot of heat and tarnish the fittings. 2. They are power hungry. 3. They are not suitable for use on sensors, as it dramatically reduces their operational life. Having light fittings in areas which operate even when not occupied can cost up to €40 per year per light on electricity. Plus, youʼll probably have to change the bulb once per year and change the ballast every 2 to 3 years. Combine all these costs together and add in the cost to fit the lamp or refit a new ballast. You can easily see why annual operational cost per item can double. LedLuxLighting is committed to reducing energy costs. By designing products that are fit for purpose. Upgrading lighting may have many additional costs. Such as remedial work to repair or touch up previous locations of the old fitting. Nevertheless, youʼd welcome at least a 50% reduction in your lighting energy and maintenance costs with a payback of under 2 to 3 years.
Seldom is remedial work required when our energy efficient LED lighting units have been installed. We take care ensuring the existing ceiling cut out matches our product diameter. We provide an enlarger bezel to conceal any discrepancy that may occur during fitting. Thereʼs no need for a painter. Create a welcoming experience in your business from check-in to checkout We provide commercial grade LED products that will deliver all you needs and more. With our LedLuxLighting retrofit range we can offer units which will deliver from 50% to 90% saving on electricity. With no maintenance costs. Backed up with a five-year warranty.
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We have retrofitted light fittings of all shapes and sizes from the 1930s to contemporary. Both indoors and out. The typical 2D fitting, either square or round will take our retrofit plate. With the additional options of on/off sensor, dimming and occupancy sensor via an inbuilt sensor or emergency control. We can also advise on all other lighting to enable you to clearly see the cost benefits of upgrading. Money saved with LED provides pay- back within a couple of years and can be as little as 10 months where lighting is operated 18 hours per day. The Maths are easy to calculate. All that is needed is commitment to put away fifty to eighty percent of electricity lighting bill, your margin will increase by the same amount. Think how many hours you need to operate to make the same amount of profit thatʼs saved annually by switching to LED lighting. Do you know of a financial arrangement that will make ROI within twenty-four (24) months and continues to pay back for more than ten years or more thereafter? There are a variety of reasons for upgrading lighting aside from financial savings. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Improved Lighting thereby improving staff motivation and productivity. More comfortable working conditions. Improved cash flow. Increased profitability Occupancy sensor in rooms that are only used from time to time. Zero downtime or disruption. High bay/Low bay focussed lighting – exactly where itʼs required – no shadows. Reduced energy bills can be used to fund new jobs. Better customer service. Attracting and retaining the right quality of staff. Less spoiled merchandise or accidental damage. Better presented merchandise. Increased competitiveness. Ability to win new contracts. Keen to create unique PR opportunities and improved green credentials. Reduced carbon emission and improved air quality. Less sick days and time off.
Based on our experience the average SME could reduce their energy bills by as much as 20% to 30% by installing energy efficiency measures with average payback within 18 months.
Tel: 087 684 0253 | 071 966 8376 Email: info@ledluxlighting.com • Web: www.ledluxlighting.com Teach Macnadilla Carrick on Shannon Co. Roscommon LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS
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M inister Coveney launches Review of Residential Rental Sector considerable change over the last ten to fifteen years, doubling in size and providing long-term homes for more people.”
The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Mr. Simon Coveney,T.D., hosted a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the Residential Rental Sector in the Morrison Hotel. The Workshop commences the consultative process on the promised review of the Residential Rental Sector. The launch was also attended by Minister Damien English.
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The preparation and delivery of a strategy for the residential rental sector is a key element of Rebuilding Ireland the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The purpose of the consultation workshop is to launch the stakeholder consultation that will inform the development of that strategy. The Stakeholder Consultation Workshop brings together a diverse group of stakeholders in the residential rental sector and gives them the opportunity to discuss and exchange views on the issues, challenges and opportunities that the sector faces, a long term vision for the sector, the objectives for the rental sector strategy and the measures and actions it will need to encompass.
Speaking at the event Minister Coveney said, “on the 19th of July we launched Rebuilding Ireland, Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness and Pillar 4 of the plan is about improving the Rental Sector. One of the main actions in this regard is the development of a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector which will be in place before the end of the year. I am pleased today to be in a position to commence the consultative part of this process.”
Opening the event Minister English said, “The residential rental sector is an essential component of the housing sector, and its vital role needs to be recognised and planned for. It has gone through
The workshop is structured in roundtable discussion groups, involving a mix of different stakeholders.
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Each table will discuss a key theme for the strategy and will be asked to address a number of questions. There will be a moderator at each table, who will introduce and facilitate the discussion and provide feedback to the workshop plenary on the key points of debate and agreement.
areas of security, supply, standards and services. In terms of security, we will look at bringing greater tenure and rent certainty to landlords and tenants, and in terms of supply we will examine how to maintain existing levels of stock while encouraging investment in additional supply, including through affordable rental,” added Minister Coveney.
“In developing a real and meaningful strategy for the rental sector I am determined that it will provide a vision of the role that the rental sector will play in the short, medium and long term, in the context of the Governmentʼs objectives for the housing sector overall, as set out in Rebuilding Ireland.
“I would urge everybody to get involved and have their say in this review. The private rented sector provides a very valuable contribution to the Housing Market and it is imperative that we have a proper functioning sector. A quality sector that meets the needs of both tenants and landlords equally and fairly is what I am want to see,” ended Minister Coveney.
“It will contain a range of actions focused on the 4 key
Minister Coveney's address to Seanad Éireann on the Report on the Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority-Provided Traveller Accommodation Background to the Review Following the tragic loss of life in Carrickmines, my Departmentʼs National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management was mandated to lead and oversee at the national level a Programme to Review Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation.
n the 21st of September 2016, my Department published the Report on the Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation. This report describes the approach to reviewing and enhancing fire safety in local authority provided Traveller accommodation. This review was undertaken in the aftermath of the deaths of ten members of an extended Traveller family in the fire tragedy in Carrickmines, Dublin on 10th October 2015.
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From the outset, a collaborative approach which incorporated the concerns, views, advice and knowledge of Travellers and Traveller Organisations Pavee Point, the National Traveller Womenʼs Forum and the Irish Traveller Movement was adopted, working together with fire safety professionals in the local authority Fire Service and staff in local authority housing sections. While recognising broader issues related to Traveller accommodation, the review process focussed on life safety and on ensuring that practical and appropriate fire safety measures, which do contribute to preventing loss of life and serious injury in local authority Traveller accommodation, have been applied systematically across the country. This involved appraising fire safety in Traveller Accommodation against the standards set out in the Working Draft “Guide to Fire Safety in Existing Traveller Accommodation”, which was prepared by the National Directorate to assist local authorities in conducting the review. It also involved running a series of community fire safety initiatives aimed at Traveller Organisations and the wider Traveller community so that awareness of fire risk and fire safety is developed and maintained over the longer
Nothing that I can say or nothing in the report can alleviate the suffering of the families affected by the fire in Carrickmines. However, the report describes the work which has been undertaken in the intervening period to plan, audit and implement fire safety measures and improvements focussed on protecting Travellers from the dangers of fire. While the report itself covers the period up to the 1st of July 2016, my officials have verified with local authorities that progress continues to be made on outstanding remedial works. In recent years, the figures for fire deaths have been some of the lowest seen for more than 40 years, placing Ireland in the league of most fire-safe nations with an annual fire fatality rate of some 6 deaths per million of population. The Carrickmines tragedy was a stark reminder of the speed with which a small fire can develop into a human tragedy of enormous proportions. It also reminds us that we need to focus our on-going fire safety efforts on those most vulnerable to the danger of fire.
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term. The review focussed on local authority Traveller specific accommodation such as halting sites and group housing schemes.
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As of the 1st of July, local authorities reported having carried out enhancements in 74% or 1,501 of the Accommodation Units appraised and by the end of September this had risen to 85% or 1,745 Accommodation Units.
Report on Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority-Provided Traveller Accommodation As I mentioned at the beginning of my statement, the report on the Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation was published by my Department on the 21st of September. The report enumerates fire safety measures and actions implemented as of the 1st of July. However, and critically from my perspective, it also proposes and recommends a series of further actions by relevant stakeholders to sustain fire safety into the longer term.
When making their submission at the end of June, a number of local authorities pointed out that while other enhancement works were ongoing this was not reflected in their return which only detailed enhancements that had been completed. In some cases, official halting sites and Group Housing Schemes were found to be well managed and maintained and, as a result, little or no enhancements were required . The three main issues to arise from the review process were: • The absence of smoke alarms which would alert families to the dangers of fire at an early stage and enable them to evacuate quickly; • The danger posed in multi-unit accommodation by the layout of units where a fire in one could prevent people escaping to safety from another unit; and • The dangers of fire (and electrocution) posed by inappropriate electrical connections between units.
The review process, which was driven at national level by the National Directorate and implemented across the country by local authorities, has effectively concluded. Local Authorities submitted returns to the National Directorate detailing the work that was undertaken up to the 1st of July 2016, the cut-off point for the submission of data for inclusion in the report. This information was analysed by the National Directorate, resulting in the generation of the report. The report highlights that as of the 1st of July local authorities reported having appraised fire safety in 95%, or 2,042, of the 2,144 Traveller Accommodation Units identified for the purpose of the review. 5% or 102 Accommodation Units were not subject to a fire safety appraisal as: • • •
Following the appraisal stage, local authorities set about carrying out the necessary remediation works and prepared implementation plans detailing short, medium and long term timeframes for action: Short-term plans typically included the Installation of Smoke alarms, Carbon Monoxide alarms and Fire Blankets and the marking of Fire Points in halting sites; Medium-term plans generally dealt with matters such as the provision of appropriate electrical connections and the reconfiguration of units where feasible; While longer-term plans covered the provision of alternative or additional accommodation where needed.
The absence of a working smoke alarm was identified as an issue in 1,654 Accommodation Units. Of these, just over three quarters, or 1,274 Units, have been supplied with smoke alarms as of the 1st of July. I would like to point out that, in some cases, there was reluctance and some persons did not wish to be provided with smoke alarms or to have them fitted. This points to the need for further work in raising awareness among Travellers of fire dangers and the value of appropriate, functional fire safety measures in the home.
Some were closed and undergoing renovations Some were unoccupied, and In a number of cases, the local authority was unable to gain access In light of this, the report recommends that relevant local authorities revisit the possibility of appraising this very small percentage of Traveller Accommodation Units which were not covered as part of the review.
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Separation distances between Traveller Accommodation units and the configuration of adjacent units within bays were determined to be issues affecting roughly half of the sites appraised. I understand that adjustments in layout have been undertaken where feasible. However, in many cases, the works required to remedy separation or configuration issues involves the provision of alternative or additional accommodation and this is not usually something that local authorities can address in the short or medium term. In addition to the physical works, a parallel programme of “community fire safety” has been undertaken by local authorities incorporating education and training for key workers and engagement with community groups on fire safety awareness. Current Community Fire Safety programmes are regarded as a significant contributor to the overall downward trend in the incidence of domestic fires and fire fatalities.
Where the reconfiguration of units is not sufficient to address layout issues, the provision of alternative or additional accommodation will be considered by local authorities over the longer-term. My Department is providing capital funding of €9m for Traveller-specific accommodation in 2017, an increase of €3.5m (64%) on the 2016 allocation. This is the second consecutive year that the Traveller Accommodation capital budget has been increased. In addition to capital funding for the provision and refurbishment of Traveller-specific accommodation, the Department also provides current funding for accommodation-related supports to operate in tandem with the capital programme. Current funding of €4.3m is being provided in 2016, and a similar amount will be provided in 2017. Funding for Traveller-specific funding is ring-fenced and is additional to general Social Housing funding, which Travellers may also benefit from. No other group in Ireland has this additional accommodation option which demonstrates a clear commitment to providing culturally appropriate accommodation to Traveller families.
Engaging people to take responsibility for their own safety, in so far as they can, is seen as a particularly effective approach. I understand that 90% of local authorities have already carried out Community Fire Safety talks or demonstrations and that this element of the review has been generally well received by Travellers and Traveller Organisations. Fire services have also carried out “Pre-Incident Planning” visits as part of their fire prevention work to ensure familiarity of the local fire service with the location of Traveller accommodation within their functional area identifying access, layout of the site, hazards on site and hydrant locations. This aspect of the review is considered to have worked very well and Pre-Incident Planning for Traveller Accommodation sites has now been included in the Fire Servicesʼ annual Pre-Incident Planning Programme.
The condition of electrical installations generally and, in particular, the external use of multiple plug adaptors, was identified as an issue in 62% of the sites appraised. Of these, a little more than half have had remedial works carried out; therefore, there remains a sizeable number of Accommodation Units where this is on-going issue.
A more complete picture of the work undertaken as part of the review can be obtained from the report which is available on my Departmentʼs website. Overall though, I am satisfied that the work undertaken to date as part of this review programme has improved fire safety on Local Authority provided traveller accommodation.
In such cases, discussions and communication between the Local Steering Group and the individuals involved to develop remedies or solutions to make safe these electrical installations have taken place or are on-going.
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