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Tuesday, 15 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 224-233

Departmental Schemes

Questions (224)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

224. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated number of households that will apply for the attic and cavity wall insulation scheme in the new National Retrofit Scheme in each of the years 2022 to 2026; the estimated budget for the programme in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8167/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.

Included in these measures is the introduction of a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation. The grant offering will be available across all part-funded schemes and will be available to all households in 2022, as a sustainable and enduring response to the current exceptionally high energy prices.

Funding for the initiative will be met from within the overall funding allocation of €267 million for the SEAI for residential and community retrofit schemes 2022. Decisions on the level of funding for the initiative in future years will be considered as part of the annual Estimates process.

The special enhanced grant rate is a demand-led initiative and I expect strong interest among homeowners to avail of these energy upgrade measures this year.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (225)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

225. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated number of households that will apply for the deep retrofit scheme in the new National Retrofit Scheme in each of the years 2022 to 2026; the estimated budget for the programme in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8168/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.

Included in these measures is the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).

This new, demand-led, scheme introduces a new way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and, quality assuring the work.

Homes, built and occupied pre-2011, and owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme.

A total of €267 million (of which €202 million is carbon tax receipts and €55 million from the Energy Efficiency National Fund) has been allocated for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes and the Solar PV scheme in 2022. The largest allocation within the 2022 financial envelope - €109m - relates to the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme which provides free energy upgrades for homes vulnerable to energy poverty.

The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme has a €40 million allocation in 2022 and €57 million is earmarked for 2023. This funding will deliver an additional 2,000 deep energy retrofits to B2 level with a heat pump in 2022 and an additional 3,000 in 2023. The scheme is expected to grow significantly in subsequent years with a total of €8 billion of Exchequer funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) available to support all residential upgrades to 2030 (as set out in the table below).

Year

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Allocation (million)

€267

€291

€380

€469

€641

€898

€1,257

€1,760

€2,000

Departmental Schemes

Questions (226)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

226. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he examined the inclusion of a household income cap in the new National Retrofit Scheme; if so, the income caps that were examined by his Department; the estimated number of households that would be excluded under each income cap if the cap was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8169/22]

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Written answers

The National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving the Climate Action Plan targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030.

In line with commitments in the Retrofit Plan, the Government recently approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The measures address barriers, including financial barriers, to undertaking energy upgrades reported by homeowners and those working in the industry.

The National Retrofit Plan outlines that new and improved SEAI grant schemes will be a central element of the Government’s strategy to encourage all homeowners living in less efficient homes to carry out an upgrade. The suite of initiatives announced last week represents the most significant reform of SEAI grant schemes since their establishment. An Exchequer investment of €8 billion to 2030 will fund the initiatives and will enable the supply chain to scale up, creating thousands of high quality jobs in communities throughout the country.

Significant support will continue to be made available to lower income households and social housing tenants in the form of free energy upgrades. This year, 58% (€203 million) of the total Government retrofit budget of €352 million will be spent on dedicated energy poverty retrofit supports and local authority retrofits.

Imposing new additional income limits and means testing were not considered as part of the design of the new upgrade Scheme.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (227)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

227. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated carbon reduction savings made by upgrading 100,000 homes under the new attic and cavity wall insulation scheme in the new National Retrofit Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8170/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.

Included in these measures is the introduction of a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation. The grant offering will be available across all part-funded schemes and will be available to all households in 2022, as a sustainable and enduring response to the current exceptionally high energy prices.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) estimates that annual savings of 24–29 kilotonnes of CO2 could be achieved by upgrading cavity wall insulation in 100,000 homes and a further 15-19 kilotonnes of annual CO2 savings could be achieved by upgrading attic insulation in 100,000 homes.

It is important to note that savings will depend on the characteristics of the homes availing of the grant measures, in particular size, as well as other factors such as existing levels of insulation and heating fuel type.

Question No. 228 answered with Question No. 205.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (229)

Michael Lowry

Question:

229. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact a company (details supplied) which provides satellite broadband to the Kilcommon, Rearcross areas of County Tipperary will permanently shut down its broadband network on 30 June 2022; the alternative broadband options that will be available in this area when the company closes; the steps taken by his Department to ensure adequate rural broadband is available to this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8266/22]

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Written answers

The Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.

With regard to the commercial operator referred to in the Question, the provision of telecommunication services is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. As set out in the Programme for Government, ensuring access to high-quality internet connections for people across Ireland is essential to the development of all parts of our country, socially and economically. Facilitating remote working and innovation opportunities is essential for addressing climate change, adapting in an evolving economy, and competing internationally. A combination of commercial investment and the State led National Broadband Plan intervention will ensure access to high speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 4 February 2022, over 298,000 premises have been surveyed or have survey underway, with over 154,000 premises constructed or under construction across all counties. NBI has also advised that premises are connected in 16 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow and over 54,500 premises are available to order and pre-order across 21 counties. In County Tipperary surveying is underway in the Deployment Area of Cahir, surveying is complete in the Deployment Areas of Nenagh and Mullinahone, pre works are underway in the Deployment Areas of Cashel and Roscrea and main works are ongoing in the Deployment Areas of Tipperary and Clonmel. To date over 17,000 premises in County Tipperary have been surveyed, with almost 8,000 premises under construction and over 2,700 premises now available to order or pre-order.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Tipperary through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 4 February 2022, 475 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Tipperary 20 BCPs have been installed to date, including Curreeney Community Hall which is approximately 5.3km from the premises referred to. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.

In County Tipperary 12 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

Environmental Policy

Questions (230)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

230. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will give consideration to banning per- and poly-fluoroalkylated substances. [8346/22]

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Written answers

Per- and poly-fluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are a family of chemicals popular for their water repellent and heat resistant characteristics and can be found in many everyday products, such as outdoor clothing, non-stick coatings on cookware as well as fire-fighting foam. Approximately 4,700 PFAS have been identified to date.

PFAS are a significant concern in the EU and globally as they can cause long-lasting environmental damage and potentially adverse health impacts. In this regard it is important that they are strongly regulated at an EU level.

In recent years the EU has set in place a number of new strategies aimed at strengthening chemical legislation to ensure that chemicals are safe and sustainable by design, and that the most hazardous chemicals are banned. My Department actively engages with the EU in this matter and strongly supports the initiatives being undertaken. These include:

- EU Farm to Fork Strategy: The Commission will be revising food contact materials legislation to improve food safety and public health.

- Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: The Commission is proposing a set of actions to address the use of, and contamination with, PFAS. This includes a commitment to address PFAS with a group approach and to only allow PFAS use where it is proven to be essential.

- Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive: The review of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive is ongoing and may include measures to deal with compostable packaging, mandating recycled content in plastic packaging, reuse, prevention, and restricting substances of concern.

Climate Change Policy

Questions (231)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

231. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 17 June 2021, the status of progress made towards the Annual Transition Statement for 2020. [8348/22]

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Written answers

The Annual Transition Statement (ATS), established under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, served an important function in providing an overview of climate change mitigation and adaptation policy measures adopted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change in order to enable the achievement of Ireland's National Transition Objective.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, significantly strengthens the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge. The new framework ensures delivery of successive Climate Action Plans and Long-term Climate Strategies, supported by a system of carbon budgeting and sectoral targets with appropriate oversight by Government, the Oireachtas and a new Climate Change Advisory Council. Under the 2021 Act, Ministers will have to give an account of their performance in relation to their sectoral targets and actions before an Oireachtas Committee each year. This framework replaces the previous ATS process.

Notwithstanding the changes introduced by the 2021 Act, I intend to publish an ATS for 2020. This ATS will set out information on developments in respect of 2019, as was required under the 2015 Act before it was amended. My Department has undertaken the preparation of this Statement through engagement with the relevant stakeholders. it is currently being finalised, and will be published before the end of March.

Fuel Poverty

Questions (232)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

232. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the ESRI-led research network on fuel poverty and the work with which it has been tasked; and the timeline for completion [8350/22]

View answer

Written answers

A research network on fuel poverty chaired by the Economic and Social Research Institute was established in 2021. The group consists of representatives from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Social Protection, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Central Statistics Office.

There have been two meetings of the network to date, in November 2021 and January this year. Further meetings will be scheduled for the coming weeks and months.

The Group has commenced examination of the data and metrics needed to improve existing measures for fuel poverty in Ireland. The main goal is to provide insights that enhance policy design to protect vulnerable households. A work programme, proposed outputs and timelines will be agreed and finalised shortly.

Departmental Funding

Questions (233)

Chris Andrews

Question:

233. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding and resources that will be made available for insulation of flat complexes and public housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8400/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.

Included in these measures is the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).

The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is a demand-led initiative that introduces a new way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work.

Homes, built and occupied pre-2011, and owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme.

It is also worth noting that a key feature of the new one stop shop model is that it will bring together groups of homes for aggregated projects thereby creating efficiencies in delivery and developing new innovation in processes and technologies.

More broadly, officials of my Department will be working with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to separately consider the best overall approaches to dealing with apartment buildings that are multi-unit buildings with common areas, rather than individual units. This will be investigated in 2022 to consider approaches to support whole building solutions.

My Department has allocated a total of €267 million in capital funding to the SEAI for residential and community retrofit schemes and the Solar PV scheme in 2022. This is expected to deliver almost 27,000 energy efficiency upgrades, of which over 8,600 will be upgraded to a BER B2 or higher; and 4,240 heat pumps installed.

In addition, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will invest a further €85 million as part of the Local Authority Retrofit Programme in 2022 which is expected to deliver approximately 2,400 B2 retrofits of Local Authority homes this year.

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