Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
126. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address concerns that there are insufficient financial incentives for persons to apply for options such as wood pellet boilers when compared with options provided by other EU member state governments (details supplied) the application criteria are too restrictive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30918/23]
View answerIn order to reduce the carbon footprint of domestic heating, Climate Action Plan 2023 includes a range of measures to address the use of fossil fuel in heating systems in buildings.
The National Heat Study, published in February 2022, found that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation path for domestic heating systems, with district heating also identified as a competitive option that can be widely deployed. These approaches are being actively prioritised by Government.
To facilitate the use of these technologies in the decarbonisation and overall energy use needs of our building stock, the Government has established a Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce and will publish a National Policy Statement on Heat to guide the Government’s overall response to the National Heat Study across all sectors.
The Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by end-2030. This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide. The budget of €8 billion to the end of the decade and annual allocations set out in the National Development Plan and National Retrofit Plan, underlines the Government’s commitment to achieving these targets.
A particularly important aspect of the Retrofit Plan was the launch, last year, of a new package of enhanced SEAI retrofit supports. Demand across the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes (including Solar PV) was exceptionally high following the introduction of these measures. Over 50,000 applications were received in 2022 which is up 150% on 2021 levels and points to a robust pipeline of activity for 2023.
To support the overarching policy objectives, the grant rates to homeowners are focused towards those measures which will be most effective in reducing energy use and reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, grant supports for wood pellet stoves will not be available under the SEAI residential energy upgrade schemes.
The Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) which funds the retrofit of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works is within the remit of the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage.
