Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
1284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated number of family homes to be retrofitted on foot of a budget of €160 million fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4932/20]
View answerMy Department has operated an Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority social housing since 2013 and data below is in respect of that programme. Data in respect of the broader housing stock, for example with support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
The local authority social housing retrofitting programme improves the insulation standards and overall energy performance of local authority housing stock, which can benefit those at risk of fuel poverty, as well as contributing to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction and energy efficiency targets. Since the beginning of the programme, over €151 million of exchequer support has been provided for this work, which has improved the energy efficiency and comfort levels in over 72,000 local authority homes.
For 2020, the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting programme for social housing has an allocated exchequer budget of €25 million, while a further €20 million is being made available for similar retrofitting in the midlands as part of the 'Just Transition' programme.
The cost of carrying out an energy retrofit on a social housing home depends on a wide range of factors including dwelling size, year of construction, dwelling condition and construction type. Furthermore, the selection of properties to be retrofitted in any particular is a matter for the local authorities and that will impact on the extent of properties retrofitted with the available funding. The exchequer funding available to local authorities under the social housing retrofit programme is up to €19,800 for a mid-terrace house and €22,800 for an end-terrace house.
