Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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239. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address the halting of the retrofitting programme in Finglas, Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17346/21]

Eamon 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/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.  A further allocation of €65 million has been provided to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to support the retrofitting of local authority homes.

Officials in my Department were unable to clarify with the Deputy the specific programme referred to. Schemes have been paused since January in line with public health advice and Government guidelines on the construction sector. It should be noted that my Department has no responsibility for Local Authority retrofitting programmes which are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.