Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
223. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has the data on the number of social housing properties under the control of local authorities in which the source of heat is solid fuel; the estimated cost of replacing the heating systems with heat pumps; and the expected timeframe for this transition to be complete. [28725/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collate information in relation to local authority housing stock according to their heating source. However, this information may be available or requested from each individual local authority.
Since 2013, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) to support local authorities with the retrofit of local authority owned homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 over 75,000 homes have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €184 million under the scheme.
In response to the Programme for Government commitment, my Department launched a newly revised ten year Energy Efficiency Programme in 2021 for local authority owned housing. This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding being made available for insulation, windows and doors and heating upgrades, specifically the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the energy efficiency programme funded by my Department.
The 2021 EERP provided funding for the installation of 604 heat pumps, while the Midlands Retrofit Pilot allowed for the installation of heat pumps on all 146 properties. The funding available for the installation of a heat pump last year was €13,000. This has been increased to €16,000 for the 2022 programme.
Earlier this year, my Department announced that funding of €85 million will be provided for the upgrade of approximately 2,400 social homes in 2022. Each local authority received an individual allocation along with a minimum target of homes they are required to retrofit. The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit ranging from those requiring minor levels of works to properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting required to bring them to a B2/cost Optimum standard.
Under the 2022 EERP, my Department funds costs of up to €48,850, plus project management fees, on individual local authority homes. The actual cost of retrofitting works on each home will depend on its pre-works BER but can be as low as €16,350 in some cases. Targets set and funding allocated to local authorities under the new programme calls for local authorities to undertake retrofitting on a variety of house types, from those requiring minimal investment to those requiring major investment, in order to achieve the B2/Cost Optimal BER. Local authorities are asked to ensure that the average cost per home drawn down under the programme is circa €36,000, including project management fees. Adhering to this average will ensure that the maximum number of homes can be retrofitted with the available budget.
Work in relation to the 2022 programme is underway but it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2022 EERP will be available early in 2023.
