Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he expects to be in a position to issue a new call for proposals and applications for retrofitting projects from local authorities. [52308/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Energy Efficiency Programme that commenced in 2013, with the ambition to fund retrofit on all social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works, has seen improved energy efficiency and comfort levels in over 73,500 Local Authority homes over the period 2013 to 2020.

A Programme for Government objective called for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER standard by 2030, of which it is expected approximately 36,500 will be local authority owned homes. In response to this commitment my Department launched a new ten year Energy Efficiency Retrofit programme in 2021, that focuses on ensuring that the fabric of the home is upgraded and an energy efficient heating system is provided.

The main objective of the Scheme is to meet Ireland’s commitments in relation to carbon emissions. Increasing the numbers of homes retrofitted will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector and will help Ireland reach its greenhouse gas emissions targets over the next decade.

An increased budget of €85 million in 2022 will see approximately 2,400 units delivered under the programme. Learning from this year’s programme will inform the 2022 programme, it is expected data from the current programme will be collated in Q4 of 2021, after which a new call for proposals from local authorities will follow for the 2022 programme.