Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government is investing in retrofitting on a massive scale. Some €8 billion will be allocated out to 2030. The revenue has to be generated to allow that to happen. That is giving certainty to the industry and allows the supply chain to scale up, creating thousands of high-quality jobs and delivering a critical national objective. Demand across Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, retrofit schemes has been exceptionally high since the Government's announcement. As of the end of August, more than 30,000 applications for support had been received, a 140% increase on the same period last year, and 13,500 home energy upgrades had been completed, which is up 70% compared with the same period last year. Of this number, 2,769 homes had been upgraded under SEAI energy poverty schemes, which is almost three times the number of homes upgraded in the same period last year. Latest projections from the SEAI indicate that the target of 27,000 home energy upgrades will be delivered this year. That compares with 15,000 upgrades last year.

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