Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022
115. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if institutional investors or vulture funds will be eligible for taxpayer fund grants under the new national retrofit scheme for houses they own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9165/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or cost optimal equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. The National Development Plan (NDP) has provided an unprecedented financial commitment to support achievement of the Government’s retrofit targets. A total of €8 billion of Exchequer funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) will be available to support residential upgrades to 2030.
The Government recently approved 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. Included in these measures was the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%). Private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies whose properties meet the eligibility criteria can avail of the scheme.
