I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 143 together.
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 equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. The National Retrofit Plan and National Development Plan have provided an unprecedented financial commitment to support achievement of the Government’s retrofit targets. A total of €8 billion of Exchequer funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) will be available to support residential upgrades to 2030.
The carbon tax allocation for residential retrofit as outlined in the National Development Plan is set out in table 1 below.
Table 1: Carbon Tax Allocation for Residential Retrofit 2022-2025 as out in the Nation Development Plan
Year
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
Planned allocation (€m)
|
202
|
291
|
380
|
469
|
The total planned annual allocations for retrofit as outlined in the National Retrofit Plan are set out in the table 2 below.
Table 2: Overall allocation (carbon tax and Exchequer funding) for residential retrofit 2022-2030
Year
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
2026
|
2027
|
2028
|
2029
|
2030
|
Planned Allocation (€m)
|
267
|
291
|
380
|
469
|
641
|
898
|
1,257
|
1,760
|
2,000
|
It is important to note that the Housing For All plan commits to the retrofitting of 36,500 local authority homes by 2030. Local authority retrofits are funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and are in addition to the allocations in the table above.
The National Retrofit Plan also states that European Union funding will be pursued to support our retrofit ambition. In this regard, my Department is currently examining the potential for the European Regional Development Fund to provide additional funding for the Warmer Homes Scheme.