Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the previously available scheme for deep retrofitting administered by the SEAI had a limit on the percentage allocation to work being carried out, that is, if the previous scheme only allowed for 25% of the funding to a deep retrofit or in which funds matched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8636/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme was launched in 2017 as a time bound pilot to investigate the challenges and opportunities of deep retrofit in Ireland. Under the scheme 50% grant funding was available for homes that carried out retrofit to an A rating and replaced fossil fuel heating systems with heat pumps and renewables, with 95% support available for people at risk of energy poverty. The pilot has provided detailed information on the types of upgrades and technologies suited to particular homes, the costs associated with deeper retrofit, post works energy performance of homes retrofitted as well as customer and contractor experience of undertaking deeper retrofit projects. A key requirement of the scheme was that applications came from service providers rather than homeowners and involved at least 5 homes.

Last week the Government launched a package of supports in line with commitments in the National Retrofit Plan. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.

The supports included the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump.  The design of the new scheme has been informed by extensive research, engagement with stakeholders and experience both internationally and in Ireland under other schemes including the Deep Retrofit Pilot.

Further information on the results of the Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme are available on SEAI’s website: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/deep-retrofit-grant/key-findings/

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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62. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if persons who wish to avail of the latest retrofitting scheme must opt for more than one item to access the scheme; if his attention has been drawn to a shortfall of qualified professionals with the capacity to carry out suites of works required; and his plans to address same. [8644/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).

The new scheme introduces a new way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work.

Homes, built and occupied pre-2011, and owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for people all over Ireland to upgrade to a warmer, healthier and more comfortable home, with lower energy bills.

In addition to the establishment of the new scheme, Government has also made clear that it is important that households that want or need to carry out the upgrade over time, should be supported at the enhanced grant levels. For that reason, many of the new grant rates are also now available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme allowing homeowners to take a step-by-step approach or self-manage the project.

Window and door replacements are available under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme as well as under the Community Energy Grant scheme as part of a whole house upgrade solution, because in these instances they tend to be required to achieve an energy efficient home to B2.

Window and door replacement are also available in some circumstances under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme which delivers free upgrades to eligible homeowners in low income households vulnerable to energy poverty.

Window and door replacements are not supported as individual measures and as such are not available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.

Retrofitting our housing stock is a key element of the Government’s plans for economic growth and development. I expect the unprecedented €8 billion of National Development Plan funding available to support residential upgrades to 2030 will stimulate the creation of high-quality jobs throughout the country. It will also have a significant multiplier effect, supporting the development of associated supply chains.

The recently published report of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs indicated that the number of workers carrying out retrofits will need to increase from approximately 4,000 in 2021 to 17,000 by the middle of the decade.  In this regard the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has provided €17 million to support 4,550 places on Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) and retrofit related courses this year. NZEB and retrofit programmes are provided in retrofit centres of excellence in Waterford Wexford ETB, Laois Offaly ETB and Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre with work ongoing to establish a further three retrofit centres of excellence in Cork, Limerick/Clare and Mayo/Sligo/Leitrim ETBs.