Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda Among Five HSE Sites Chosen for €48 Million Retrofit Project

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda has been selected as one of five Health Service Executive (HSE) sites across Ireland to undergo a significant energy and decarbonisation retrofit as part of a €48 million pilot project. The initiative is funded through the REPowerEU plan under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).

The REPowerEU plan is an ambitious European Union initiative designed to reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to green energy. This particular project, which is the first deep retrofit of HSE sites, will provide essential learning and experience for the HSE, which manages a vast portfolio of healthcare buildings across the country. Notably, one in five public sector buildings in Ireland is a healthcare facility, making this project a critical step toward meeting the country’s climate goals.

The €48 million REPowerEU funding will be distributed among five HSE sites, including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Lusk Community Nursing Unit, Baltinglass Community Nursing Unit, Clonakilty Community Nursing Unit, and Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar.

Welcoming the funding, Minister of State Ossian Smyth emphasized the importance of energy efficiency in healthcare facilities, stating, “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.”

Brian O’Connell, Interim National Director of HSE Capital and Estates, expressed the HSE’s enthusiasm for the project, noting, “This funding 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), highlighted the broader impact of the project, stating, “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.”

This pilot project represents a significant step in the HSE’s efforts to lead by example in the fight against climate change, setting the stage for a more sustainable future across Ireland’s public sector.