Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2023
166. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14495/23]
View answer167. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14496/23]
View answer168. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14497/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167 and 168 together.
The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan commit set ambitious 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.
In February last year, Government announced an enhanced package of measures to support the uptake of home energy upgrades including:
- A new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme operated through a network of registered One Stop Shops with increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard.
- Alignment of grants available for relevant measures under the Better Energy Homes Scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme to the rates available under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme.
- A significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades provided to those at risk of energy poverty alongside changes to the operation of the Warmer Homes Scheme. This includes ensuring the Scheme prioritises those in the worst performing homes first and opening the Scheme for homeowner ‘revisits’ thereby allowing them apply for deeper energy upgrade measures now available under the scheme.
- A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households. This will help to urgently reduce energy use as part of the Government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.
As the figures below show, demand across the SEAI supported residential retrofit schemes and increased significant since 2020:
- 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported in 2022, compared to 17,546 in 2020, representing a 55% increase.
- Of these, 8,481 upgrades were to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better in 2022, compared to 3,280 in 2020, representing a 158% increase.
- 4,438 free energy upgrades were delivered under SEAI energy poverty schemes, compared to 1,473 in 2020, representing a 200% increase.
The information requested in the questions is included in the attached table:
|
SEAI Home Energy Upgrade Programmes |
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
To date in 2023 |
|
No of property upgrades |
15,223 |
11,711 |
21,823 |
5,514 |
|
|
Individual Energy Grants |
Capital Expenditure |
€26.1m |
€24.7m |
€61.0m |
€14.9m |
|
No of property upgrades |
1,473 |
2,398 |
4,438 |
466 |
|
|
Fully Funded Energy Upgrades |
Capital Expenditure |
€25.5m |
€41.4m |
€98.0m |
€14.2m |
|
No of property upgrades |
850 |
1,137 |
938 |
145 |
|
|
One Stop Shop including Pilots* |
Capital Expenditure |
€26.9m |
€32.7m |
€29.2m |
€3.0m |
* Comprises National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, Community Energy Grant Scheme, Deep Retrofit Pilot.
My Department is working with SEAI to build on the strong performance of 2022. A record €356 million in funding has been allocated to SEAI for residential and community retrofit for 2023 to support the delivery of 37,000 retrofits this year.
