Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 July 2020
69. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of projects completed under the deep retrofit scheme; the expenditure involved; the number of outstanding projects to be completed; the estimated cost of each; and the number that will not go ahead. [17522/20]
View answerThe Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme was launched in 2017 as a time bound pilot to investigate the challenges and opportunities of deep retrofit in Ireland. The Pilot provides 50% funding for energy upgrades to an A BER rating with 95% funding provided for low-income households. The scheme, which is funded by my Department and operated by the SEAI, closed for applications on 19th July 2019. All applications received in advance of the deadline were evaluated in line with the scheme terms and conditions.
The information requested in relation to number of projects and expenditure under the Deep Retrofit Pilot is set out in the table below.
|
Project details |
Amounts |
|
Total projects completed |
54 (341 homes) |
|
Expenditure to date |
€13.656 million (includes completed projects and milestone payments on projects to be completed) |
|
Projects to be completed |
58 (256 homes) |
|
Balance to be paid |
€14.259 million (includes monitoring and verification amounts for completed projects and projects to be completed) |
|
Number not going ahead |
1 (project withdrawn by Service Provider) |
More generally, the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets for the number and depth of residential retrofits to be completed by 2030. The targets are to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal equivalent and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. Retrofitting has the ability to contribute to a number of important goals including - decarbonisation; warmer, more comfortable homes; and job creation and retention.
A cross-Departmental Retrofit Taskforce has been established to develop a new retrofit delivery model capable of achieving these targets. This process has been informed by experience from existing schemes in Ireland such as the Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme, consultation with stakeholders and an analysis of relevant international experience. The model is designed to address barriers to energy efficiency investments in four key areas: customer proposition and demand generation, financing and affordability, supplier capacity, and delivery structure. The Climate Action Plan, as part of this process, commits to reviewing and redesigning the existing grant schemes to ensure alignment with Government climate objectives and value for money.
The Retrofit Taskforce report, to be published in October 2020, will inform the future design of retrofit schemes to deliver the ambitious targets as set out in the Programme for Government.
