Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
970. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes retrofitted on an annual basis from 2020 under the local authorities energy efficiency retrofit programme; to provide those details on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39349/23]
View answer971. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average time from application to completion under the local authorities energy efficiency retrofit programme on an annual basis from 2020; to provide those details on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39350/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 970 and 971 together.
In response to the Programme for Government commitment, my Department launched a newly revised ten year Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) in 2021 to retrofit 36,500 local authority homes by 2030. This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding being made available for attic and wall insulation, windows and doors and heating upgrades, specifically the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the energy efficiency programme funded by my Department.
An annualised breakdown of the funding provided and the number of properties upgraded under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit programme for the years 2013-2022 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
My Department issued a formal notification this year under Circular 22/2023 announcing that Exchequer funding of €87 million is available to local authorities for the retrofit of approximately 2,400 social homes. Each local authority received an individual allocation along with a minimum target of homes they are required to retrofit.
Targets set and funding allocated to local authorities under the programme calls for local authorities to undertake a variety of house types, from those requiring minimal investment to those requiring extensive investment, in order to achieve the B2/Cost Optimal BER. While details in relation to average time from application to completion are not routinely collated by my Department, this information may be available from each individual local authority upon request.
