Departmental Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

Ceisteanna (421, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

421. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost to increase the energy efficiency retrofitting programmes by 50%. [54972/23]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

427. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department allocated to the energy efficiency retrofitting programme, as per the revised estimates for Budget 2024. [55013/23]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

428. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department allocated to the energy efficiency retrofitting programme in Budget 2024. [55014/23]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

429. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the social housing retrofit budget for 2024. [55015/23]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

430. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the social housing solar PV budget for 2024. [55016/23]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

431. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost to retrofit a social house in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55017/23]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

432. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost to increase the social housing retrofit budget by 50%. [55018/23]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

433. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many local authority homes were retrofitted in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the total number of post-retrofit BER rating per BER level in 2020, 2021, 2022 and in 2023 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55019/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 427 to 433, inclusive, together.

In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.

Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. The funded measures achieve the B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER) as identified by the 2018 Cost Optimal calculations carried out under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. In certain circumstances, my Department supports the installation of 1kWp solar PV for small social housing with a floor area less than 55 m2, with a maximum HLI of 2.6 on a pilot basis. In such cases local authorities are required to cooperate with SEAI as part of research monitoring the performance of heat pumps in these dwellings.

Furthermore, under the Microgeneration Support Scheme led by Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Solar PV is available for all domestic premises.

An annualised breakdown of the funding and number of properties completed by each local authority since 2013 under my Departments Energy Efficiency programme is available at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/

In 2023, my Department announced that funding of €87 million is available under the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme for the retrofit of approximately 2,400 social homes.

Under the 2023 EERP programme, 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. Targets set and funding allocated to local authorities under the new programme calls for local authorities to undertake 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 €36,500, 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 2023 programme is nearing completion and current indicators show that the original target of 2,400 retrofits is expected to be completed this year. Full details in relation to delivery under the 2023 Energy Efficiency Programme will be available early in 2024.

As notified in budget 2024, €90 million is being made available to the local authority sector for the retrofitting of social housing next year. Funding allocations to each individual local authority are still under consideration and will be announced early in 2024.

A 50% increase in the 2024 EERP budget would cost an additional €45 million.