Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
38. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that are in place to support the reduction in residential emissions for households currently using kerosene but who cannot afford a heat pump or whose properties are not suitable for heat pump installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50247/23]
View answerIn February 2022, Government launched a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The key measures introduced include:
• a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) providing increased grant levels for retrofits to a B2 BER standard.
• establishment of a network of One Stop Shops offering a start-to-finish project management service for home energy upgrades.
• aligning many of the grant supports available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme to the NHEUS.
• amending the construction rule for grant support for installation of heat pumps to allow for homes built and occupied before 2021.
• significant increases in grant support for an air to water heat pump increasing from €3,500 to up to €6,500. For homeowners undertaking a deep retrofit with a heat pump under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) or the Community Energy Grant (CEG) Scheme, additional grant support is available towards required heating system upgrades, as well as a bonus payment of €2,000 to eligible homeowners. This equates to a potential grant support of up to €10,500 available to homeowners upgrading to a heat pump as part of a deep retrofit project.
• Significantly increasing the number of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty.
• A special enhanced grant rate for attic and cavity wall insulation available which is available to all households.
Since the introduction of the new measures in February 2022, demand for the SEAI Schemes has been exceptionally high. Figures to end of October 2023 show:
• 38,826 home energy upgrades have been supported so far this year (up 112% on the same period last year and 105% of the 2023 target of 37,000);
• Over 14,000 BER B2 upgrades completed (up 162% on October 2022 and 102% of the 2023 target of 13,846);
• 3,003 Heat pumps installed (up 121% on the same period last year);
• 4,513 fully funded energy upgrades for low-income households (up 28% on the same period last year and 75% of the 2023 target of 6,000).
