Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
161. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can detail the funding streams under the remit of his Department that can be used or are available to local authorities for the retrofitting of social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31734/23]
View answer162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the funding from his Department for the retrofitting of local authority housing units in each of the years since 2016; and the number of units affected, in tabular form. [31735/23]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) has the primary responsibility and provides the vast majority of support for the retrofitting of local authority homes. For 2023 that Department provided funding of €87 million for energy upgrades of Local Authority homes.
My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Since 2000, over 495,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier to heat and light.
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 energy upgrades this year.
The SEAI advises that Local Authority homes are not eligible for SEAI’s main home energy grant schemes - National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme; Better Energy Homes Scheme; Solar PV; or Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme.
Under the Community Energy Grant scheme, Local Authority houses may be considered as part of an inclusive community of mixed-ownership houses, where Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage provide approval to co-fund. Housing Associations and Local Authorities should contact SEAI directly to discuss options for participation in the Communities Energy Grant scheme in 2023 in relation to domestic works.
The specific sub programme 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.
