Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021
25. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the State-funded retrofitting grants available in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3338/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners, communities, commercial and public sector bodies to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The SEAI residential retrofit schemes offer partial grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency improvements for people at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 400,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light. Budget 2021 provided €221.5 million in capital funding for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes.
Further information on the residential supports is available at https://www.seai.ie/energy-efficient-homes/.
SEAI grants that enable businesses and the public sector to become more energy efficient include the Community Energy Grants, Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) and the Public Sector Retrofit Pathfinder programmes. Since 2018, over €44 million in capital funding has supported energy related projects in over 240 public buildings and supported over 600 beneficiaries under the business energy supports schemes. SEAI also administer the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat which provides grant supports for the installation of heat pumps, and operation support (i.e. multi-annual support for biomass and anaerobic digestion heating systems). Budget 2021 provided €38 million in capital funding for SEAI commercial and public sector programmes.
Further information on the business and public sector supports is available at https://www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/.
The information requested for 2021 is presented in the table below.
2021 Grants
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Better Energy Homes Scheme Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme Better Energy Warmth and Wellbeing Scheme National Retrofit Programme (One Stop Shop Development Scheme) Community Energy Grants (formerly Better Energy Communities) Better Energy Finance Scheme Solar PV Sustainable Energy Communities Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) Support Scheme for Renewable Heat Project Assistance Grants |
