Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:112. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to include HAP tenancies in the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [54980/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 12 December 2023
Ceisteanna (112, 113, 143, 144)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out any assessment to estimate the cost and feasibility of including HAP tenancies as part of the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [54981/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDarren O'Rourke
Ceist:143. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to include HAP tenancies in the SEAI warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54978/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDarren O'Rourke
Ceist:144. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out any assessment to estimate the cost and feasibility of including HAP tenancies as part of the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [54979/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 113, 143 and 144 together.
The Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is available to owner-occupied homes built before 2006 where the household meets the Department of Social Protection (DSP) payment related eligibility criteria. The average value of the upgrades provided in 2023 was €24,000 which represents a significant investment in these properties.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is provided by all Local Authorities. Under HAP, Local Authorities can provide housing assistance to households with a long-term housing need, who are renting in the private rental market. There are no plans to include HAP tenancies under the Warmer Homes Scheme.
Rental properties can present a specific challenge for energy efficiency improvements. This is an issue found in most countries where the incentives to invest in energy upgrades can be misaligned between landlords and tenants.
The Government’s Housing for All Plan commits to the introduction of a minimum BER for private rental properties, where feasible, from 2025, and to develop a roadmap to implement these standards.
Additionally, as part of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, last year the Government approved a new package of supports targeting homes that were built and occupied pre-2011. These supports have been made available to non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to undertake home energy upgrades, with lower energy bills and to improve the efficiency of their rental properties including:
• The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (One Stop Shop Service) provides grant support for private landlords (with higher supports available for AHBs) seeking to upgrade their property to a B2 level.
• The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides support to landlords for step-by-step retrofits.
• Landlords can also avail of generous grant support for attic and cavity wall insulation, which are low-cost measures that can be installed quickly and cost effectively.
In addition to these supports, a new tax incentive to encourage small-scale landlords to undertake retrofitting works while the tenant remains in situ was announced last year. This measure provides for a tax deduction of up to €10,000 per property, against Case V rental income, for certain retrofitting expenses incurred by the landlord on rented residential properties, for a maximum of two rental properties. Full details are set out in Section 32 of the Finance Act 2022.
Landlords will also be able to apply for loans under the forthcoming Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme.
It should also be noted that the Housing for All plan commits to the retrofitting of 36,500 local authority homes by 2030 as part of the achievement of the Climate Action Plan retrofit targets.
Question No. 113 answered with Question No. 112.