Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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198. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes retrofitted in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form on each retrofitting programme; the spend to date on each scheme in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31256/21]

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. This allocation has facilitated the expansion and improvement of existing SEAI grant schemes and the introduction of new initiatives. A further €65 million has been allocated to retrofit social housing administered by the Department of Housing.

The number of homes retrofitted in 2020 and to date in 2021 with SEAI support, and the spend to date on each scheme in each year is set out in the table below. In 2020, SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes supported the upgrading of over 17,600 homes. The number of retrofits last year were unfortunately, negatively impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions. Enhanced COVID restrictions between January and April also had a significant impact on activity this year. Every effort is being made to maximise activity now that construction activity in the residential sector has recommenced.

* Local authority retrofits are in addition to the table above.

** The deadline for completion of projects under these schemes is October.  Activity under these schemes will therefore be reported in the coming months.