Funded by my Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a wide range of energy efficiency programmes across the residential, commercial and public sectors. From 2011 to 2017 a total of €452m has been allocated to energy efficiency. Between 2011 and 2015 all sectors were funded through the National Retrofit Programme, (which became the Better Energy Programme), with the bulk of the spend on the residential sector - details are set out in Table 1. Since 2012 the Better Energy Communities scheme has made funding available for partnership across the residential, commercial and public sectors.
Table 1 - Total allocation for National Retrofit/Better Energy Programmes for year 2011-2015
|
Year
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
Total €m
|
|
Capital Allocation €m
|
100.4
|
68.0
|
45.3
|
54.6
|
47.2
|
315.5
|
From 2016 dedicated capital programmes for the commercial and public sectors have been increasing as shown set out in Table 2.
Table 2 - Allocations for Residential, Commercial and Public sectors - 2016-2018: Capital Allocation - €m
|
Year
|
Total Allocation
|
Residential
|
Public and Commercial Sectors
|
|
2016
|
€61
|
€58
|
€3
|
|
2017
|
€75.8
|
€67.3
|
€8.5
|
|
2018
|
€107
|
€84
|
€23
|
In the residential sector the focus is on home retrofit measures such as upgrading of heating systems, insulation etc. In the commercial sector efforts have focused on providing advice and support to businesses and achievement of energy management certification. In addition, I have established a number of schemes to pilot new approaches and develop an evidence base for future policies and measures. These include the Warmth and Well-being scheme and the Deep Renovation Pilot, and SME pilot schemes - the Dairy Pilot scheme and the Smart Lighting Scheme. Details of measures are provided in the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, and in the National Mitigation Plan published by my Department this year and available on my Department's website.
In addition, I secured €10m in current funding, which is critical to support the necessary engagement with energy users to motivate them to act on energy efficiency. Recognising the importance of Energy Efficiency to national energy and climate action objectives, my Department continues to significantly expand energy efficiency programmes. In Budget 2018 I secured €107m in capital funding for energy efficiency schemes in 2018. Of this €84m will support residential energy efficiency programmes, €9m will support projects in the public sector and the €14m will support the commercial and industrial sector – including small businesses and farms.
Further information on allocations for next year can be made available when the details have been decided between my Department and SEAI and when the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
