Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2023
192. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a breakdown of the number of retrofits in 2020, 2021 and 2022 in private homes, approved housing bodies and social housing. [15465/23]
View answer193. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a breakdown of the total value of grants and expenditure on retrofits in 2020, 2021 and 2022 in private homes, approved housing bodies and social housing. [15466/23]
View answer194. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average BER rating of homes retrofitted in 2021 and 2022 prior to being retrofitted; and the average BER rating when completed. [15467/23]
View answer197. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average grant figure for 2021 and 2022, broken down by approved housing bodies and private homes. [15470/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 192, 193, 194 and 197 together.
The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan 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 order to promote and incentivise the achievement of these targets, in February 2022, Government launched a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.
SEAI schemes offer grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades, as well as free energy upgrades for people at risk of energy poverty through the fully funded Warmer Homes Scheme. Approved Housing Body (AHB) properties are supported under the SEAI supported National Home Energy Upgrade and Community Energy Grant Schemes. Local Authority social housing energy upgrades are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Following the introduction of the new measures, demand across the SEAI grant supported schemes was exceptionally high in 2022 with:
- Over 50,000 applications processed (up 140% year on year)
- Capital expenditure of €188 million (up 90% year on year)
- 27,199 home energy upgrades (up 78% year on year)
- 8,481 BER B2 upgrades completed (up 95% year on year)
- 4,438 fully funded energy upgrades for low-income households (up 85% year on year)
- A further 437 Approved Housing Body homes were supported under the One-Stop-Shop Scheme and an additional 95 low-income houses were supported under the Community Energy Grants Scheme.
- 16,827 attic and cavity wall measures supported (up 107% year on year)
-12 one-Stop-Shops registered with SEAI
- 40.27kt CO2 emissions savings (up 80% year on year)
A more detailed overview of the SEAI 2022 performance against annual targets on the residential and community energy efficiency schemes can be found in their recently published report, along with key stats for the period 2019 to 2022. The Report can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/news-and-media/home-energy-upgrades-2022/
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.
The additional specific information requested by the Deputy is being compiled by the SEAI and the available data will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
