Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021
117. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the way in which the Budget 2021 allocation of €221.5 million for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes has been allocated and spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44970/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. The development of the national retrofit plan to achieve these targets is well underway. Some €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes, including the Solar PV scheme and the Building Energy Rating programme. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes.
Of this amount, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households with the balance of €112.5 million to be spent on expanding existing SEAI residential and community grant schemes and introducing new initiatives.
Of the overall capital allocation for 2021, €48.9 million has been spent as of 16 September. It is important to note that extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity between January and mid-April had a significant impact on activity this year. Output has also been negatively impacted by challenges associated with availability and longer lead times for materials. Every effort is being made to maximise output now that construction activity in the residential sector has recommenced.
