Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
269. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the budgets given to the SEAI for the retrofit scheme for each of the past five years; the amount spent per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50530/21]
View answerImproving the energy efficiency of our homes and reducing their carbon emissions is a critical climate priority and a major focus of the funding provided in the National Development Plan review. €5 billion in carbon tax receipts will be invested by my Department to support the achievement of our national targets which are to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal or carbon equivalent and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by 2030 with €1.3 billion of this to be provided for the period 2022-2025. I understand that the Question is confined to the Better Energy Warmers Homes Scheme.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date, over 143,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme. In the first six months of 2021, the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was approximately €17,100.
Funding for SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased significantly to over €109 million in 2021, with €100 million allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget will support people vulnerable to energy poverty. The funding will mean that more households can receive free energy efficiency upgrades making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, in line with the Programme for Government. I have also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is set out in the Table below.
|
- |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021* |
|
Budget Allocation |
€21.6m |
€35.5m |
€39.8m |
€52.8m |
€100m |
|
Expenditure |
€22.6m |
€35.5m |
€39.8m |
€23.4m |
€20.9m |
(* to end September 2021)
It is important to note that extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity between March and June of 2020 as well as between January and mid-April 2021 had a significant impact on activity in 2020 and 2021. 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.
