Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
203. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average grant provided to a household in County Cork for retrofitting their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55341/21]
View answer204. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes that have been retrofitted to date in 2021, by county; the number by county estimated to be retrofitted by the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55342/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. 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 to heat and light.
€221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. This allocation has facilitated the expansion and improvement of existing SEAI grant schemes and the introduction of new initiatives.
Extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in the residential sector between January and April have had a significant impact on activity and expenditure this year. Over 9,800 retrofits have been delivered to date in 2021 and the SEAI estimate that the numbers will rise to over 16,000 by the end of the year. The request for the additional specific information sought by the Deputy has been forwarded to the SEAI and available data will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible.
In addition to the schemes funded by my Department and operated by the SEAI, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funds the Local Authority Retrofit Scheme. In 2021, €65 million was allocated for energy upgrades of Local Authority homes.
