Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
116. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to state how many homes in Carlow have benefitted from the warmer homes scheme, the better energy homes scheme and the national home energy upgrade scheme since the schemes were launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3160/24]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious 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, the Government has put in place 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.
Demand across the SEAI grant supported schemes was exceptionally high last year with indicative figures from SEAI showing that in 2023:
• A total of 47,952 home energy upgrades were supported. This represents a 76% increase on 2022 levels.
• Of this amount, 17,599 homes achieved a B2 Building Energy Rating. This represents an 107% increase on 2022 levels.
• Under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme, 5,897 fully funded upgrades for energy poor homes were delivered. This represents a 33% increase in upgrades provided versus 2022.
• In addition, 67,411 applications for grant support were received by SEAI in 2023 equating to a 34% increase on 2022 levels. This indicates a strong pipeline of works for 2024.
• A record capital budget of €437.2 million for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes has been allocated for 2024. The overall allocation will mean that the progress made last year under the National Retrofit Plan will be further built on in 2024.
• With regard to the information sought by the Deputy, figures from SEAI show the number of properties upgraded in Carlow for the 3 schemes requested, from the time of their launch:
• Warmer Homes Scheme: 631 properties upgraded in the period 2015 – 2023.
• Better Energy Homes Scheme: 2,709 property upgrades supported in the period 2009 – 2023.
• National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (incl. pilots): 43 property upgrades supported in the period 2019 – 2023.
