Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
128. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the updated average cost for retrofitting a social housing unit as part of the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10509/24]
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, in 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. As part of the new measures, grants including those for heat pumps were significantly increased.
The SEAI advises that the cost of a retrofit depends on a range of factors including the size and type of home as well as the age and starting condition of the property and the retrofitting works required or recommended.
Local Authority social housing energy upgrades are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. However, Approved Housing Body (AHB) properties are supported under the SEAI National Home Energy Upgrade and Community Energy Grant Schemes. Most recent data available from SEAI shows that under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme the average cost of energy upgrade works for AHB dwellings was €30,046 in 2023 with an average grant of €15,900. This brought the properties from an average pre-works BER rating of C3 to post-works rating of A3.
