Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
94. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many local authority homes have been retrofitted to date in 2023; how many were retrofitted to a standard of BER B2 or above; how many were installed with heat pumps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48962/23]
View answerSince 2013, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme which has supported retrofit work on over 77,500 social homes to the end of 2022 with a total exchequer spend of €251 million, this figure includes those dwellings retrofit under the Midlands Retrofit Pilot.
In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme, designed around the Programme for Government's commitment that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2 or Cost Optimal Equivalent BER by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes,
The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in Exchequer 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.
In 2021, local Authorities retrofitted 1,038 social homes to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent. Heat pumps were installed in 750 which is 72% of these properties. In 2022, local authorities retrofitted 2,283 social homes to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent and heat pumps were installed in 1,898 which is 83% of these.
In 2023, my Department announced that funding of €87 million will be provided for the retrofit of approximately 2,400 social homes. To date local authorities have received Exchequer funding for 940 completed retrofits with 813 heat pumps installed in those homes. Current indicators show that the target of 2,400 retrofits are expected to be completed this year.
