Tipperary TD slams government’s 'out-of-touch' refusal to reconsider ban on chimneys in new homes

Independent TD for Tipperary, Mattie McGrath, has criticised the Minister for Housing for what he calls a "breathtaking lack of common sense" in the Department’s refusal to review building regulations that effectively prohibit the installation of chimneys and solid fuel stoves in new-build homes.

Deputy McGrath had submitted a Parliamentary Question asking the Minister to urgently review policies and allow for chimneys and solid fuel stoves in all new homes, particularly to ensure households have a reliable alternative heating source during electricity outages.

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However, the Department responded by reaffirming its commitment to current regulations under the Climate Action Plan and the EU’s Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards.

"The response I received proves just how divorced this Government has become from the lived realities of rural Ireland," said Deputy McGrath.

"The spin about A-rated homes and energy performance is cold comfort to a family sitting in the dark with no heat when the electricity is out, which is happening more and more frequently. We saw the damage done during Storm Eowyn where households were left without power for up to two weeks. Many of these new builds had no capacity to heat their homes without access to Solid fuel."

Deputy McGrath warned that the insistence on eliminating chimneys from new homes is part of a wider pattern of policy-making that disregards both rural resilience and basic common sense.

"I’m not against energy efficiency or renewables — far from it. But let’s get real: electricity can fail. Solid fuel stoves and chimneys have always been a dependable fallback. Removing them as an option is not only short-sighted, it’s dangerous."

McGrath said he would continue to advocate for a balanced and pragmatic approach to building regulations that prioritises not only carbon targets but also energy security and public safety.

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