Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021
27. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if equality impact assessments have been conducted on retrofitting schemes; if so, the findings of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3340/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a range of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty.
Since 2000, over 400,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes. Over 142,000 of these were free upgrades for lower income households. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light.
€221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year through my Department's Vote to the SEAI for residential and community retrofit schemes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. Of this amount, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households with the balance of €112.5 million to be spent on expanding existing SEAI grant schemes and introducing new initiatives.
The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 older homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. The development of a new retrofit plan to achieve these targets is well underway. The impacts of the plan will be considered in line with the requirements of the Government approval process.
A new Statement of Strategy for my Department is currently being developed in accordance with the requirements of the Public Service Management Act 1997. An important part of the development process involves scanning the external environment to ensure that the Strategy reflects changes and challenges in society and the economy, including any statutory requirements such as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. I will ensure that the relevant requirements of that Act are fully reflected in the Statement of Strategy.
