Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
257. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the target output for the number of homes upgraded to a building energy rating of B2 or above outlined in the 2022 Revised Estimates remains at 8,640; if it has since been adjusted; the projected cost of meeting the output target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19668/22]
View answerThe 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 review of the National Development Plan (NDP) resulted in 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. This year, total funding of €267 million has been allocated to the SEAI for residential and community retrofit schemes and the Solar PV scheme, of which, €202 million is carbon tax receipts. This funding allocation will be used to support 27,000 home energy upgrades across all schemes including 8,640 homes to a post-works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2. The individual SEAI schemes will contribute to meeting this B2 target.
Achieving B2 status for homeowners is central to the recently launched National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which introduces a new, highly customer centric, way to undertake home upgrades. SEAI registered One-Stop-Shops will provide an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors; and quality assurance. The Scheme offers unprecedented grant levels, increased from around 30% to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump.
