Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2019
609. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding for the SEAI deep retrofit pilot scheme has run out; if so, when further funding will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26731/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra610. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications received for the SEAI deep retrofit pilot scheme; the number of applications with works completed; the number of applications outstanding in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26732/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 610 together.
The Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme was set up to investigate the challenges and opportunities associated with providing deeper retrofits to the residential sector. The Scheme is providing vital, on the ground, evidence of how to overcome the technical and economic challenge of deep retrofit, especially the practical advice and support a householder needs to undertake it. This will help homes achieve an A3 building rating by incorporating works such as insulation, ventilation, window replacement and renewable heating technologies. The results will provide insights into the potential costs of upgrading the building stock, as a greater range of building archetypes are upgraded under the scheme.
Table 1 below sets out the number of project applications received by the SEAI since 2017. It is important to note that each project application is through a service provider and must include 5 or more houses. This approach is taken in order to incorporate an element of aggregation and maximise the learnings from the pilot.
Table 1 - Number of Deep Retrofit Projects 2017-2019
|
Project Status |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
Total |
|
Complete |
11 |
25 |
0 |
37 |
|
In Progress |
0 |
7 |
9 |
16 |
|
Under Evaluation |
0 |
2 |
38 |
39 |
|
Withdrawn |
2 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
|
Total |
13 |
39 |
46 |
98 |
The projects "under evaluation" category includes complete applications that are being evaluated as well as applications that are incomplete or not in a position to be proposed for approval.
Table 2 below outlines the number of individual homes within the project applications.
Table 2 - Number of Deep Retrofit Homes 2017-2019
|
Project Status |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
Total |
|
Complete |
120 |
139 |
0 |
259 |
|
In Progress |
0 |
37 |
46 |
83 |
|
Under Evaluation |
0 |
10 |
219 |
229 |
|
Withdrawn |
22 |
28 |
0 |
50 |
|
Total |
142 |
214 |
265 |
621 |
As evident from both tables, there has been a sustained increase in demand for the scheme as a direct result of the increased and positive dialogue now being engaged in across Irish society regarding climate change.
In 2018, the pilot scheme provided grants to homeowners to the value of €4.7m. This year I have allocated €7m to the scheme. At end May 2019, €1m had been paid out in grants. As projects are completed further grants will be drawn down and I expect the full allocation to be spent by year end.
The recently published Climate Action Plan sets highly ambitious targets of 500,000 retrofits as well as the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes. The lessons learned from the Deep Retrofit Pilot will be of great assistance in designing the policies and approaches required to deliver this target.
