Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
96. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of the number of applications received for insultation and energy grants for County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36652/23]
View answer97. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of the number of successful applications received for insultation and energy grants for County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36653/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.
The Climate Action Plan includes 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, last year, the Government launched a package of significantly enhanced supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades.
Following the introduction of the new measures, 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported in 2022, which represents a 79% increase year-on year.
My Department is working with SEAI to build on the strong performance in 2022. A target of 37,000 upgrades has been set for this year. A record €356 million in funding has been allocated to SEAI this year for residential and community schemes to support the achievement of this target. SEAI data shows that almost 10,000 home energy upgrades were delivered in Q1.
Most recent data from the SEAI also shows that in 2022, 932 home energy upgrades were completed in County Wicklow while the corresponding figure for Quarter 1, 2023 is 366 home energy upgrades. The National Retrofit Plan Progress Report for Quarter 2, 2023 is being prepared by SEAI and will be available shortly.
More detailed information is available on the SEAI website at:
www.seai.ie/publications/SEAI-Retrofit-Annual-Report-2022.pdf
www.seai.ie/publications/SEAI-Retrofit-Quarterly-Report-Q1-2023.pdf
www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/home-upgrades/.
The SEAI does not routinely report application data on a county-by-county basis. However, the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie.
