Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 October 2021
49. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will reopen the better energy home deep retrofit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49574/21]
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 scheme was closed for new applications in July 2019 in line with the published Application Guidelines. Approved projects that were not completed in 2019 or 2020 will be funded this year.
A range of other grants for energy efficiency upgrades continue to be available from the Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Partial grants are available for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty. It is also intended to launch a new National Retrofit Scheme focused on achieving deeper, B2 retrofits later this year.
Since 2000, over 450,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light. Further information on SEAI grants is available at www.seai.ie or by contacting SEAI directly at 1850 927 000.
The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 or cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. A new National Retrofit Plan will be published in quarter 4 of this year. The plan is designed to address barriers to energy efficiency investments in four key areas: customer proposition and demand generation, financing and affordability, supplier capacity, and governance.
Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is a critical climate priority and a major focus of the funding provided in the NDP Review. €5 billion of the expected €9.5 billion in additional carbon tax receipts will be invested in energy efficiency and will underpin the forthcoming National Retrofit Plan.
