Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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158. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent under the warmer homes scheme to date in 2021; the number of homes upgraded to date; the number with work in progress; the number in which work is expected to start before the end of 2021; the amount provided for the scheme in 2021; the projected total spend for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53254/21]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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159. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent under each retrofitting scheme under his Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, to date in 2021; the amount provided for; the projected total spend for 2021; the projected number of homes that will be made more energy efficient in each case in which it is applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53255/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together.  158  and 159 together.

This year, €221.5 million in capital funding was provided for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes, including the Solar PV scheme and the Building Energy Rating programme.  This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes.  Of the total budget, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households with the balance to be spent on expanding existing SEAI residential and community grant schemes and introducing new initiatives.

*including community activation  

Extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in the residential sector between January and April have had a significant impact on activity and expenditure 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. Information on the number of homes in which work is expected to start under the Warmer Homes Scheme before the end of 2021 is not readily available.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of households both private and public, that have availed of a complete home energy upgrade retrofit through any of his Department’s grant schemes in each of the past four calendar years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53325/21]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of households in local authority-owned accommodation that have received an energy upgrade retrofit through any of his Department’s grant schemes in each of the past four calendar years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53326/21]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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162. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the average cost of the home energy upgrade retrofits made through any of his Department’s grants in each of the past four calendar years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53327/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 161 and 162 together.160 , 161 and 162  together,

My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Since 2000, over 450,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier to heat and light.

€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.

In addition to the schemes funded by my Department and operated by the SEAI, it should be noted that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provides the vast majority of support for the retrofitting of local authority homes. In 2021, they provided funding of €65 million for energy upgrades of Local Authority homes.

My officials have asked the SEAI to forward the specific data requested directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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163. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of service technicians qualified to retrofit homes with energy upgrades; if he will consider putting together a database of qualified technicians similar to that which exists for those dealing with gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53329/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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There is no specific category of “service technicians” for home energy upgrades.  Various trades are involved in the different elements of home energy upgrades or retrofit.  These include electricians, electrical fitters, insulation installers, roofers, plumbers, heating and ventilating engineers, carpenters, joiners, glaziers, window fabricators and fitters, plasterers, painters and decorators. For that reason, there is no such single register.     SEAI requires that contractors carrying out works on homes funded with Government grant support adhere to the regulations, standards and requirements for installers, products and installations. In essence the works must be carried out by competent personnel appropriately trained for each element of works being carried out. The competency standard relating to each specific energy upgrade or measure are specified in SEAI Domestic Technical Standard Specification.  Many of these energy upgrade works are using existing schemes and registers, e.g. External and Cavity insulation contractors being approved by NSAI Agrément scheme, Solar PV installers being registered electrical contractors or Heat Pumps being installed by qualified plumbers who have completed specific training courses.

SEAI has delegated responsibility to maintain an Irish Renewable Installer Register under SI 482 of 2014. Installers of the associated technologies (small-scale biomass boilers and stoves, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal systems, shallow geothermal systems and heat pumps) are required to be certified by an accredited training programme or training provider that is accredited by SEAI.   In addition the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) is an online register, supported by Government, of competent builders, contractors, specialist sub-contractors and tradespersons who undertake to carry out construction works.  This register will be placed on a statutory footing next year. 

SEAI are also in the process of putting in place a registration scheme for One Stop Shops.  These are entities which offer and deliver an end-to-end service to advise upon and carry out all aspects of a home energy upgrade.  These entities and other service providers then employ the mix of trades and skilled operatives to deliver the work to the required standards.    

Government, through the National Retrofit Plan, is creating the conditions for companies in retrofit to expand and grow.  This will lead to more career opportunities in the green economy in general and the retrofit sector in particular.