Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
150. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of retrofit enrolments in County Clare for each of the past five years; if he will outline the targets for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9993/23]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan includes targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. This represents one of the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide and is a core element of the Government's plan to reduce emissions from the residential sector.
In order to reach this target, the Climate Action Plan 2023 includes targets to retrofit the equivalent of 120,000 dwellings to BER B2 or cost optimal equivalent level and install 45,000 heat pumps in existing dwellings in the period 2019-2025. For the second half of the decade, targets will ramp up significantly to deliver on average, approximately 75,000 B2-equivalent home upgrades per year from 2026 to 2030 to achieve the overall target by the end of the decade.
Final data from the SEAI shows that 27,200 home energy upgrades were delivered last year, exceeding the targeted level. Of the total home energy upgrades supported in 2022, 608 were in County Clare. The data requested by the Deputy for the period 2018-2021 is not routinely reported by SEAI. Further information on the SEAI programmes and schemes can be requested by emailing oireachtas@seai.ie.
My Department is working with SEAI to build on the strong performance in 2022. A target of 37,000 retrofits has been set for this year, and a record €356 million in funding has been allocated to SEAI this year for residential and community retrofit to support the achievement of this target.
