The REPowerEU funding, part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), for investment in a HSE Pilot Energy and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Project, has been welcomed.

This project has been approved for €48 million in funding from Ireland's total NRRP allocation of €1.15 billion, with €240 million specifically allocated through REPowerEU. Approximately 20 per cent of public sector buildings are healthcare facilities. The SEAI/HSE Pilot Energy and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Project represents the first deep retrofit of HSE sites and will be crucial for providing valuable insights and experience for the HSE, which manages a significant national estate.

Welcoming the funding, 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 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."

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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 €48 million REPowerEU allocation will be allocated to five HSE sites: Lusk Community Nursing Unit, Baltinglass Community Nursing Unit, Clonakilty Community Nursing Unit, Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. HSE Capital and Estates will oversee the implementation.