Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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296. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes that have been retrofitted to date in 2021; the number estimated to be retrofitted by the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51291/21]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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297. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes that will be retrofitted in 2022; the number of these that will be fully funded by the State; the cost of same; the number that will be partially funded by the State; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51292/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.

Improving the energy efficiency of our homes and reducing their carbon emissions is a critical climate priority and a major focus of the funding provided in the National Development Plan review.  €5 billion in carbon tax receipts will be invested by my Department to support the achievement of our national targets which are to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal or carbon equivalent and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by 2030 with €1.3 billion of this to be provided for the period 2022-2025.

A new National Retrofit Plan to be published shortly will detail the Government’s approach to meeting these targets and will address barriers to retrofit across four key areas: driving demand and activity; financing and affordability; supply chain, skills and standards; and structures and governance.

Extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in the residential sector between January and April have had a significant impact on activity this year. Over 9,800 retrofits have been delivered to date in 2021 and the SEAI estimate that will rise to over 16,000 homes retrofitted by the end of the year.

Budget 2022 commits €202 million in carbon tax revenue to fund the SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes and a further €10 million from the Exchequer for the Solar PV scheme. This investment will support over 22,000 home energy upgrades, including over 6,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 and over 4,500 upgrades under the SEAI energy poverty schemes.  It will deliver warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes with lower energy bills. It will also reduce emissions from the residential sector and improve air quality. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will invest a further €85 million as part of the Local Authority Retrofit Programme in 2022. This will deliver approximately 2,400 B2 retrofits of Local Authority homes next year.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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303. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount the low-cost loan scheme for residential retrofitting will cost the State in 2022; the number of households that are expected to use this facility in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51298/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government and the 2019 Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to upgrade 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal or carbon equivalent, and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings by 2030. These targets represent a very significant increase in both the volume and depth of retrofit activity in Ireland.  My Department is engaging with the Department of Finance and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland in relation to the development of a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme. This project has been selected for inclusion in Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The specific features of the scheme as well as its costing are still under development. However, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan estimated the cost at €60 million, inclusive of €40 million from the European funding but excluding operational costs.  

The part-Exchequer and part-EU funded loan guarantee will provide risk protection to retail credit institutions participating in the scheme. This will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates and make comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable to consumers. As a result, households will be able to enjoy more comfortable and healthier homes with a lower carbon footprint. 

The loan guarantee is expected to  increase the volume of retrofit activity within the State and improve the resilience of the supply chain within the retrofit sector. The scheme will also signal to the banking sector new viable business opportunities associated with the transition to a low carbon economy.