Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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228. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if recommendations have been finalised on the implementation of changes to ensure that the warmer homes scheme better targets the people most in need as set out in the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4323/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to lower income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 146,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme leaving them better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. During the first 9 months of 2021, the approximate average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was €17,100. Budget 2022 has allocated €202 million for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes. Over half of this (€109 million) will be used to provide free energy efficiency upgrades to households that are in, or at risk of, energy poverty through the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme.

The National Retrofit Plan includes a commitment to finalise recommendations on the implementation of changes to ensure that the Warmer Homes Scheme better targets those most in need. I will shortly finalise proposals in that regard.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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229. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of retrofits delivered in local authority homes in each retrofitting scheme for each county to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4324/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provide the vast majority of support for the retrofitting of local authority homes. I understand that 1,730 local authority homes were upgraded under that Department's retrofit programme in 2021.More broadly, my Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty.

Since 2000, over 465,000 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 and cheaper to heat and light.

The SEAI advise that since 2017, support has been provided to retrofit a total of 102 Local Authority homes through schemes funded by my Department. All of these homes have received energy upgrades to a minimum post-works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2.

The table below provides a breakdown of the homes delivered by SEAI Scheme, by year of delivery and by county: