Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The climate action plan contains a target to reduce emissions from the residential sector by retrofitting the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating, BER, of B2 cost optimal and installing 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by the end of 2030.

Earlier this year, the Government launched a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. In recognition of the importance of high-impact shallow measures in reducing household energy demand, a special enhanced grant rate of 80% was introduced specifically for attic insulation and cavity wall insulation for all households. Figures for September compared with those for last year show that demand is exceptionally high across all schemes this year, with applications up almost 150%. Home energy upgrade completions are up 67% on last year, home upgrades to a BER B2 rating or better are up 104% on last year and the number of homes upgraded under Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, energy poverty schemes is up 136%. We are on track to achieve the overall target of 27,000 this year and we are targeting 37,000 next year, which was part of the long-term plan.

We are building towards the annual numbers we need to achieve to reach our overall target of 500,000. The SEAI estimates there could be up to 500,000 homes with attic insulation of a thickness of less than 120 mm of mineral wool. It also estimates that approximately 162,000 homes have cavity wall construction that could benefit from insulation. Approximately 80,000 of those homes were constructed pre 1980 and could particularly benefit from cavity wall insulation.

We are working with the SEAI and other stakeholders to ensure that this opportunity is maximised. In recent years, the number of homeowners installing attic and cavity wall insulation has fallen compared with the levels seen a decade ago. This could be attributed to a range of economic factors - mainly homeowner choice. This is one of the reasons we introduced the 80% grant, and it is working. So far this year, demand for attic and cavity insulation grants has been very strong with a near tripling in applications. In its most recent forecasts, the SEAI advises that it expects to complete in the order of 20,000 attic and cavity wall insulations by year-end, which is part of the overall figure of 27,000.

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