Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. My Department is working on a new energy policy White Paper which will set out Ireland’s energy policy up to 2030. I aim to publish the White Paper in October. In regard to its energy efficiency aspects, eliminating waste and the targeting of improved energy efficiency will be key to our transition to a sustainable energy future.

Through the better energy homes programme which provides grant support for householders who undertake energy efficiency improvements, 167,443 homes have undertaken energy efficiency retrofits, with a total Government investment of €174 million.

Additionally, under the Better Energy Warmer Homes programme, 115,223 homes in energy poverty have received free energy efficiency improvements with a total Government investment of almost €138 million. A further 9,644 homes have received energy efficiency upgrades under the Better Energy Areas and Communities Programme, with €46.8 million of Government funds invested. In total, almost one sixth of all homes in the country have received a Government-supported energy efficiency upgrade.

In March of this year, I announced an increase in the level of financial support available to householders under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme. The cash value of every grant available to householders was increased by between 25% and 50%. In addition, a bonus payment was introduced which sees householders receive a bonus payment if they complete three or more energy efficiency improvements. The minimum grant threshold was also abolished.

Resourcing of measures that will be set out in the energy policy White Paper will be considered in the context of the normal budgetary discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and as the development of the White Paper is finalised over the coming months.

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