Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 April 2023
13. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the figures for all retrofits completed in Q1 2023 under all SEAI schemes, by scheme, pre-BER, and post-BER; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18596/23]
View answer14. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the figures of retrofits completed under the SEAI 'one-stop-shop scheme' in Q1 this year, pre-BER, and post-BER; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18597/23]
View answer16. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the figures of retrofits completed under the SEAI's 'warmer homes' scheme in Q1 this year, pre-BER, and post-BER; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18599/23]
View answer17. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average waiting home for a retrofit under all SEAI schemes in Q1 this year by scheme, per BER rating pre-completion, and per BER rating post-completion, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18600/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 14, 16 and 17 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.
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.
Following the introduction of the new measures, demand across the SEAI grant supported schemes was exceptionally high in 2022 and to date this year, with data from SEAI showing:
• 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported in 2022, which represents a 79% increase year-on year. Figures to end of March 2023 show 9,946 home energy upgrades have been delivered so far this year.
• 4,438 homes were delivered across the fully funded schemes in 2022 which represents an increase of 85% on the number end of March 2023 show 946 home energy upgrades completed under the Warmer Homes Scheme.
• 8,481 homes upgraded to a post works BER or B2 or better in 2022, representing a 95% increase year-on-year. Figures to the end of March 2023, show 3,304 homes have been upgraded to a post works BER of B2 or better.
• 643 home energy upgrades were completed under the NHEUS (National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme) in 2022. Figures to the end of March 2023 show 255 home energy upgrades completed.
• 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 quarterly report, which can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/news-and-media/home-energy-upgrades-2022/.
• In line with the respective terms and conditions of the various SEAI energy efficiency schemes, not all homeowners are required to have a pre-works Building Energy Rating (BER) in advance of works commencing. This is the case for the Individual Grants Schemes, while the requirement for a pre-works BER was only introduced under the Free Energy Upgrade Schemes in February 2022. A pre-works BER is required for all homes under the deep retrofit schemes i.e. National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme; Community Energy Grant Scheme; and Deep Retrofit Pilot.
• A post-works BER is required on completion of the works across all schemes and this allows SEAI to determine the Building Energy Rating (BER) achieved following retrofit works.
• 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 BER data sought by the Deputy is not routinely supplied by the SEAI to my Department. I have directed SEAI to reply directly to the Deputy with the data requested, in so far as it is available, as soon as possible.
