Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for changes to the various SEAI schemes and grants available to private homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1466/21]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

182. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to incentivise and support households to undertake retrofitting and other energy efficiency measures to help combat climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1415/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 182 together.

The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years.€221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. This allocation is kick-starting the first phase of our retrofit plan.

Of this amount, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households. This is a €47 million increase on the 2020 allocation. €112.5 million will be spent on expanding other existing SEAI grant schemes and introducing new and improved ones. The first of the new schemes was launched in September when a call for projects under the new National Retrofit (One-Stop-Shop Development) scheme issued. A €30 million call for projects under the Communities Energy Grant scheme was launched in November. Examples of other initiatives to commence in 2021 and now in development include a new National Retrofit scheme focused on achieving B2 retrofits; a heat-pump ready homes campaign and a new Community Activation Scheme.