Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
192. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding programme for the SEAI community grants in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57899/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Communities Energy Grant Scheme is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The Scheme supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.
Demand for the CEG Scheme has been very strong since the launch of this year’s Call for Projects in March. To date, 17 contracts with a grant value of over €42 million have been issued by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and a further 7 applications are currently under evaluation within the SEAI. All of which points to a strong pipeline of works under the scheme for the remainder of this year and into 2023.
Budget 2023 included an exchequer capital funding allocation of €337.3 million for the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including the Solar PV scheme. Of this allocation, €291 million is being provided from carbon tax revenue.
This overall allocation is the highest ever and means that the Community Energy Grant Scheme will have a record budget allocation for 2023.
The final details of the funding allocations to each SEAI scheme is currently being finalised as part of the 2023 SEAI business planning process.
