Written answers

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Energy Efficiency

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of upcoming SEAI grant schemes for works on private dwellings. [28182/20]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. The retrofitting of homes delivers a range of important benefits including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; the creation and retention of jobs in communities across the country; as well as warmer, more comfortable and healthier homes for citizens.The development of a new retrofit plan to achieve these targets is well underway.  This process has included reviewing the experience of existing schemes in Ireland, consultation with stakeholders and an analysis of relevant international experience.

SEAI grant schemes will be a central element of the Government’s approach to achieving our retrofit targets. The July Stimulus commits to increasing the SEAI budget by €100 million in 2021. This additional funding will be focused on community retrofit schemes, retrofit schemes supporting those in energy poverty as well as other initiatives to support the achievement of our retrofit targets.  The funding supported the first call for projects under the new National Homes Retrofit Scheme which was launched on 25 September.  This scheme is suitable for one-stop-shops, residential service providers, employers, financial institutions, Approved Housing Bodies and local authorities.  Details are available at: www.seai.ie.

By announcing this additional funding as part of the July Stimulus, the Government is providing certainty to the sector so that they can continue approved programmes of work, bid into new and expanded schemes, maintain a pipeline of retrofit activity, and sustain and create jobs.  Further details on other new and expanded schemes will be announced in the coming weeks.

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