Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
101. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of homes that were deep retrofitted in 2021 and 2022; and the total number of homes that installed a heat pump in 2021 and 2022. [9859/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action Plan includes a target to reduce emissions from the residential sector by retrofitting the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and installing 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by the end of 2030.
In February last year, the Government launched a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. The key measures introduced include:
- a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard.
- establishment of a network of One Stop Shops offering a start-to-finish project management service for home energy upgrades.
- aligning many of the grant supports available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme with the NHEUS rates.
- a special enhanced grant rate of 80% for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households in recognition of the importance of high-impact shallow measures.
- grants of up to €10,500 to support the installation of a heat pump with emitters such as radiators.
Demand across the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes was exceptionally high in 2022 as the figures below highlight:
- 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported compared to 15,246 in 2021 - a 79% increase year-on year.
- Of these, 8,481 upgrades were to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better, compared to 4,345 in 2021 - a 95% increase year-on-year.
- Of the overall figure, 4,438 free energy upgrades were delivered under SEAI energy poverty schemes, compared to 2,398 in 2021 - a 85% increase year-on-year.
- 2,269 heat pumps were installed in 2022, compared to 1,972 in 2021 - a 15% increase year-on-year.
- Over 50,000 applications received in 2022 which is up 150% on 2021 levels and points to a robust pipeline of activity for 2023.
My Department is working with SEAI to build on this strong performance. A target of 37,000 retrofits has been set for 2023, and a record €356 million capital funding has been allocated to SEAI for residential and community retrofit to support the achievement of this target.
