Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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178. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the resources and staff that will be available for the National Retrofit Delivery Body; the cost of establishing the Body to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54081/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has been designated as the National Retrofit Delivery Body and has been mandated to drive the delivery of our national retrofit targets of 500,000 home upgrades to a BER 2 energy rating and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems. The responsibilities of the SEAI in this capacity include: promoting retrofit uptake through marketing campaigns; enhancing the appeal of the retrofit supports and schemes as well as improving the customer journey; setting standards for and registering retrofit one-stop-shops; increasing the number of BER assessors; monitoring and managing the quantum and quality of retrofit service provision; and supporting the supply chain in the area of retrofit.

The National Retrofit Plan identifies an unprecedented €8 billion to support homeowners to retrofit their homes through SEAI retrofit schemes including energy poverty schemes. Significant additional funding is being provided by the Government to continue to increase the capacity of the agency. The process of developing, restructuring and recruiting the necessary expertise commenced in 2021 and will continue in parallel with the delivery of the National Retrofit Plan. SEAI received an additional €2.9m in Budget 2021 and a further €3.1 million in Budget 2022 to increase the staffing resources in the organisation, with the bulk of this assigned to retrofit activity.