I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.
My Department has operated an Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority social housing since 2013, under which over 72,000 social homes have been insulated to date with funding support of some €151 million. The programme improves the insulation standards and overall energy performance of local authority housing stock, which can benefit those at risk of fuel poverty and also improve the health and comfort of the occupants of local authority homes.
For 2020, the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting programme for social housing has an allocated exchequer budget of €25 million, while a further €20 million is being made available for similar retrofitting of social homes in the midlands as part of the 'Just Transition' programme.
The Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for social housing is open to all local authorities and has been implemented to date in two phases: Phase 1 is classed as a shallow retrofit and aims to ensure that the entire social housing stock has, as a minimum, cavity wall and attic insulation. Phase 2 focuses on the fabric upgrade works to those dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction and includes the provision of heating upgrades and replacement windows and doors; this is deemed to be a more deep retrofit. In transitioning to the deep retrofit implementation, my Department has requested local authorities to achieve a 'B2' or equivalent building energy rating for their housing stock.
In addition to the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme, energy efficiency improvements have also been incorporated into the approximately 11,000 vacant social housing homes that have been returned to productive use under the Voids Programme since 2014.
As part of the 'Just Transition' proposals for the midlands region, Budget 2020 also made provision for €20 million to fund energy efficiency upgrades to local authority houses in the affected counties as a pilot programme. As well as retrofitting social housing stock in the midlands, the programme also aims to create opportunities for retrofitting of private housing with support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
This Programme is being developed under a Retrofit Taskforce and has involved my Department working closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment, the SEAI and the relevant local authorities.
As set out in the Programme for Government, a national retrofitting plan is due to be rolled out in 2021 led by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment. The midlands pilot along with other pilot schemes which are due to commence rollout in early 2021, will be used to test key elements of the national plan and my Department will work with the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment in this work. The targets set within the Climate Action Plan will see 500,000 homes nationally, retrofitted by end 2030, including private and social homes. This will build on the investment already made in retrofitting of social homes and the improved comfort levels and addressing of fuel poverty which have resulted.
