Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the requirements of the defective blocks scheme (details supplied) that limits scheme participants that as a consequence of defective blocks must entirely rebuild their homes and to out-of-date standards in that rebuilding; and if he will consult with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to allow persons that qualify for the defective blocks scheme to receive automatic access to SEAI supports. [30965/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The SEAI operates a number of energy efficiency upgrade schemes on behalf of my Department. These schemes include partial grants for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as schemes that provide free energy efficiency improvements for people who are in receipt of certain welfare payments.Full details on the schemes are available from the SEAI on 1850 250 204 or their website at: .

The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, including our homes, with targets 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.

SEAI grant schemes will be a central element of the Government’s approach to achieving our national retrofit targets. Budget 2021 provided €221.5 million in capital funding for residential and community retrofit programmes next year to be funded by my Department through the SEAI. This represents an additional €100 million, or 82% increase, on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever in the budget for the schemes. A further €65 million has been provided for retrofitting the social housing stock through the Vote of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The defective blocks scheme is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Participants in the defective blocks scheme can also apply for SEAI funding in line with the relevant eligibility criteria.