Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2023
193. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding allocated to grants for sustainable community projects in 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5369/23]
View answer196. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for community energy grants, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5390/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 196 together.
The Communities Energy Grant is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Scheme supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.
In 2021, 39 Community Energy Projects were funded with SEAI Grant Support of €26.5 million resulting in a total investment of over €86m. Since the launch of the 2022 Call for Projects last March, there has been very strong demand for the Scheme. At the end of December there were 24 community energy projects approved for capital support of €63 million towards a total investment of over €168 million.
This year, a record €68 million capital funding has been allocated to the Scheme with €0.3 million current funding also provided.
