Ireland’s Retrofit Plan Faces Scrutiny as ESRI Researchers Address Oireachtas Committee
Ireland is facing challenges in meeting its carbon reduction targets for the residential sector, with current projections falling short, according to recent research presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy. Researchers from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to decarbonize residential heat, acknowledging limitations in the current retrofit plan.
ESRI Research Highlights Retrofit Progress and Challenges
Dr. Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI, and Dr. Niall Farrell presented their findings to the committee on March 25, 2026. Their research, drawing on data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Central Statistics Office (CSO), and various energy industry participants, revealed that progress on deep retrofits and heat pump installations reached only 11.5% and 3.5% of the 2030 goals by the conclude of 2024. ESRI LinkedIn Post
The researchers cautioned that relying solely on retrofitting and electrification may not be sufficient to achieve the necessary emissions reductions. They highlighted the need for supplementary measures, particularly for households that may not readily adopt heat pumps or undergo deep retrofits.
Bridging the Gap: Exploring Alternative Solutions
One potential bridging measure discussed was the transition from oil heating to gas. Although acknowledging concerns about “fossil fuel lock-in,” Dr. Lynch suggested that switching kerosene-reliant households to gas could offer a lower-carbon solution in the short term, especially given that approximately 700,000 Irish homes currently apply kerosene. ESRI News
The researchers noted that approximately 13% of oil-reliant households would be willing to switch to gas if connection fees were not a deterrent. This suggests that addressing infrastructure costs could facilitate a quicker reduction in emissions.
The Need for Granular Data
Both Dr. Lynch and Dr. Farrell emphasized the importance of collecting more detailed data on household energy usage. They explained that current data limitations hinder accurate assessments of the effectiveness of retrofitting measures. ESRI News
They proposed that requiring energy usage data as a condition of receiving retrofit grants, and collecting Eircode data for electric vehicle grant recipients, could provide valuable insights for future research. The committee chairman, Naoise Ó Muirí, expressed support for this idea.
ESRI Expertise and Research Focus
Muireann Lynch is a Senior Research Officer in the Economic Analysis division of the ESRI, with expertise in energy economics, electricity market regulation, and renewable generation integration. ESRI – Muireann Lynch Niall Farrell co-authored the research and contributed to the presentation at the Oireachtas Committee.
The ESRI’s research is funded by various organizations, including Science Foundation Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the European Commission, and energy industry organizations.
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