Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if energy improvement grants awarded in 2020 will continue into 2021 (details supplied) under the new programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15933/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set highly ambitious targets for the number and depth of residential retrofits to be completed by 2030. The targets are to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal equivalent and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. Retrofitting has the ability to contribute to a number of important goals including - decarbonisation; warmer, more comfortable homes; and job creation and retention.

The administration of energy efficiency schemes funded by my Department is a matter for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). I have however asked for some enquiries to be made on this matter.Unfortunately the information provided in the Deputy’s question did not identify definitively which scheme the applicant applied under. However, based on the information provided, SEAI have advised it would most likely be the Better Energy Communities Scheme as it operates a contract end date of 15 October.

SEAI are being as flexible as possible given the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in currently, with the goal of a full delivery of the 2020 programme and allocated budget. The team in SEAI are aware of a number of logistical difficulties with some products and are open to discuss options with project coordinators responsible for delivery of contracts.

The job of the project coordinators under the Communities scheme is to ensure delivery within the terms and conditions and they get a fee for this service. The project coordinators therefore have full responsibility for logistical arrangements. To date the Energy Agency through which the applicant applied has not indicated to SEAI that they have any difficulty with delivery of the project. SEAI have advised that the applicant should contact their project coordinator regarding this matter. Should they have an issue in this regard they should raise it with SEAI.