Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
815. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of providing an air-to-water heat pump to each local authority home in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41687/22]
View answer816. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of local authority homes that will be retrofitted in 2022; the number delivered in 2021; the estimated number in 2023; the budget allocated for this in 2021 and to date in 2022; the amount that has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41688/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 815 and 816 together.
A new enhanced ten year energy efficiency programme was launched in 2021 in response to a commitment made under the Programme for Government, which called for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER standard by 2030, of which approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes.
This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding being made available for insulation, windows and doors and heating upgrades, specifically the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the energy efficiency programme funded by my Department.
The 2021 Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme provided funding for the installation of 604 heat pumps, while the Midlands Retrofit Pilot allowed for the installation of heat pumps on all 146 properties. The grant funding available from my Department for the installation of a heat pump last year was €13,000. This has been increased to €16,000 for the 2022 programme.
In 2021 €65 million of Exchequer funding was made available to local authorities for the retrofit of 2400 dwellings to BER B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent.
An annualised breakdown of the total funding provided and the number of properties upgraded under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit programme for the years 2013-2021 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
My Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme in 2020-2022, the details of which are found below. A further 146 properties were retrofitted to a BER of B2/ Cost Optimal Equivalent and these figures are in addition to the National Retrofit Programme.
gov.ie - Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme - Expenditure and Units (www.gov.ie)
Earlier this year, my Department announced a significant increase in funding available of €85 million which will provided for the upgrade of approximately 2,400 social homes in 2022. Each local authority received an individual allocation along with a minimum target of homes they are required to retrofit. The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit ranging from those requiring minor levels of works to properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting required to bring them to a B2/Cost Optimum standard.
Work in relation to the 2022 programme is underway but it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2022 Energy Efficiency Programme will be available early in 2023.
Discussions are ongoing in relation to the target number of units to be retrofit per local authority and appropriate budget to implement the 2023 Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme.
