Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2019
417. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of adding the replacement of single glaze windows with double glaze under the warmer home scheme. [38621/19]
View answer418. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of adding the replacement of single glaze windows and replacement doors under the warmer home scheme. [38622/19]
View answer427. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of adding the replacement of single glaze windows with double glaze under the warmer home scheme. [38636/19]
View answer428. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of adding the replacement of single glaze windows and replacement doors under the warmer home scheme. [38637/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 417, 418, 427 and 428 together.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty. The Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. These upgrades are provided free of charge to the homeowner. This year I initially allocated €24m to the scheme, and following a mid-year capital review additional funding was made available, bringing the total allocation up to €39.8m.
Prior to 2018, the Warmer Homes Scheme predominantly focussed on delivering shallow measures such as attic and cavity wall insulation. In 2018, a significant change was introduced to the scheme with the expansion of wall insulation measures available to include internal and external wall insulation as standard. This was a very positive step forward and opened the scheme up to many who would previously have been unable to get their walls insulated.
This change has meant that windows can also now be provided under the scheme. Window replacement can be recommended in limited circumstances following an SEAI technical survey. This recommendation is typically made in circumstances where only single glaze windows exist and where wall insulation is also being installed. Recommendations are made on a case by case basis.
Doors are not currently provided under the scheme.
The following table shows estimates of the approximate cost of providing replacement of single glazed windows and doors under the scheme. The projections are based on 2018 completion rates for homes under the scheme and a number of other assumptions as set out.
|
Measure |
Cost |
Assumptions |
|
Replace single glazed windows |
€3,760,000 |
Approx. 12% of homes are now recommended for window upgrades under the scheme. Cost of windows package @ €6,000 per home. 2018 completion rates of 5,222 homes. |
|
Doors |
€2,585,000 |
Doors are not currently provided but this projection assumes that 45% of homes would need a replacement door (based on experience in the Warmth and Wellbeing scheme, but no certainty that this would apply if introduced under WHS). Cost of door @€1,100 per home. 2018 completion rates of 5,222 homes. |
The Government published the first Climate Action Plan on 17 June. The plan sets out, for the first time, the actions Ireland needs to take to reach our 2030 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and also puts Ireland on the right trajectory towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The Climate Action Plan commits to reviewing ways to improve how current energy poverty schemes target those most in need. That work is underway.
