Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
144. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of grants issued by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to homeowners for external wall insulation in the years of 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [2949/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030.
To promote and incentivise the achievement of these targets, the Government has put in place a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.
Demand across the SEAI grant supported schemes was exceptionally high last year with indicative figures from SEAI showing that in 2023:
• A total of 47,952 home energy upgrades were supported. This represents a 76% increase on 2022 levels.
• Of this amount, 17,599 homes achieved a B2 Building Energy Rating. This represents an 107% increase on 2022 levels.
• Under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme, 5,897 fully funded upgrades for energy poor homes were delivered. This represents a 33% increase in upgrades provided versus 2022.
• In addition, 67,411 applications for grant support were received by SEAI in 2023 equating to a 34% increase on 2022 levels. This indicates a strong pipeline of works for 2024.
A record capital budget of €437.2 million for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes has been allocated for 2024, ensuring that the progress made last year under the National Retrofit Plan will be further built on this year.
With regard to the information sought by the Deputy, figures from SEAI show that in 2022, grant support for external wall insultation was provided to 4,308 homeowners while the figure for 2023 was 6,110. The grant support was provided across: Better Energy Homes; National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (one Stop Shops); Community Energy Grant Scheme; and Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme (fully funded scheme).
