Dr. Ciaran Byrne:

I thank the Cathaoirleach and committee members for the invitation to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, to attend this meeting to discuss the important subject of energy poverty and the retrofitting of homes in rural and urban areas. This is our first time before this committee and we welcome the opportunity. I am joined by my colleagues Mr. O'Mahony, who is attending remotely, and in person by Ms Buggie, programme manager for sustainable energy communities, and Mr. Randles.

The SEAI is at the heart of delivering Ireland’s energy revolution. Funded by the Government through the Departments of the Environment, Climate and Communications and Transport, our total budget allocation in 2023 was just under €595 million. Ireland has ambitious energy and climate targets to achieve against the backdrop of post-pandemic supply chain impacts, inflation and the energy crisis. The SEAI is driving Ireland’s sustainable energy transformation for the benefit of society and our climate, and we passionately believe in this transformation. We do this by driving the reduction and replacement of fossil fuel use and we are central to informing, implementing and delivering Government energy policy and national climate action plans. Our record of delivery continues at pace, with our organisational achievements for last year documented in the information pack provided to members ahead of this briefing. Despite uncertainty in the global economy and the energy sector due to the ongoing geopolitical crises, I am proud to report the SEAI substantially achieved its targets for 2023, delivering significant growth in all aspects of our work.

On retrofitting, Ireland is a world leader in many areas of the transition to a low carbon economy, such as wind energy development and approaches to upgrading our existing housing stock. The challenges we face are not just Irish challenges but global ones. The SEAI’s work is critical to bridging the chasm between the global challenge, Ireland’s obligations and the responsibilities of all of us as citizens on our journey to a low carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable society by 2050. The SEAI has an excellent story to tell on retrofitting. In recent years, as the national retrofit delivery body, the record shows we have made enormous progress on home energy upgrades. Since 2019, we have upgraded 132,720 homes, in every county in Ireland. Of these, more than 17,000 were energy-poor homes. A breakdown per county is provided in the information pack. In the past two years, we have seen real momentum as more homeowners embraced the multiple benefits of retrofit.

In 2023, we delivered retrofits to almost 6,000 energy-poor homes on the warmer homes scheme, up one third on the just over 4,400 homes delivered in 2022 and up 150% on 2021. At the same time, the number of monthly applications more than quadrupled, from a monthly average of 244 in 2021 to 1,165 in 2023. While scheme delivery has increased substantially, therefore, pointing to its success, the exponential increase in the number of applications brings challenges, which we will be happy to expand on during our discussion.

The link between energy and climate action is inextricable. Reducing the use of energy, and using more renewable energy where possible, are the most cost-effective and accessible ways for citizens and communities to take action on climate change. Availing of renewable energy is a genuine opportunity for most. Aside from meeting our targets, decarbonisation will deliver multiple benefits to society, including healthier buildings and environments, employment opportunities throughout the country and increased efficiencies and competitiveness.

I again thank the committee for inviting the SEAI to attend. We look forward to a fruitful meeting.