Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of upgrades completed under the warmth and well-being scheme, by county, in each of the years 2016 to 31 December 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9380/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Warmth and Wellbeing pilot scheme aims to objectively measure and validate the health and wellbeing impacts of improving the living conditions of vulnerable people living in energy poverty with chronic respiratory conditions. The scheme is a collaboration between my Department and the Department of Health and is jointly administered by the Health Service Executive and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Since 2016, over 1,400 homes have received free upgrades to their homes, including attic and wall insulation, window and door replacement and heating system upgrades, where needed.

One of the qualifying criteria for the scheme was that applicants must reside within the area designated for the pilot scheme, namely Dublin 8, 10, 12, 22 and 24.  The number of upgrades completed in these areas under the Warmth and Wellbeing scheme in each of the years 2016 to 31 December 2021 are as follows.

Following the successful pilot works a Report is being prepared by the London School of Hygiene and tropical Medicine, expected in Q2 this year. Given that the research element reached a sufficient number of applicants and based on the Steering Group feedback, the Scheme is now closed to new applicants with associated funding transferring to the broader Warmer Homes Scheme from 2023.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the way the warmth and well-being scheme will be incorporated into new schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9381/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Warmth and Wellbeing pilot scheme aims to objectively measure and validate the health and wellbeing impacts of improving the living conditions of vulnerable people living in energy poverty with chronic respiratory conditions. The scheme is a collaboration between my Department and the Department of Health and is jointly administered by the Health Service Executive and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Since 2016, almost 1,500 homes have received free upgrades to their homes, including attic and wall insulation, window and door replacement and heating system upgrades where needed. Given that the research element of the scheme has now closed to participants having reached a sufficient number, new applications for the scheme will cease on 28 February. Existing applications will receive their upgrades in line with the existing terms and conditions.

The Exchequer investment in this scheme has significantly improved the warmth and comfort of the homes involved. Initial reports have indicated that the upgrades are also delivering benefits to the health and wellbeing of participants, including reports of needing fewer GP and hospital visits, fewer prescriptions for antibiotics as well as increased engagement with other support services in the community. An independent analysis of the scheme benefits is being carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, in collaboration with the Health Service Executive.

The details of how the scheme can inform Government’s approaches to retrofitting, especially with regard to those who are more vulnerable and at risk of energy poverty,  will be considered when the final findings of the analysis are available. From next year, the Warmth and Wellbeing budget will be transferred to the Warmer Homes Scheme.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration will be given by his Department to engaging with other stakeholders on building capacity to achieve the key measures of the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9382/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving the Climate Action Plan targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030.

The Plan was informed by engagement, consultation and workshops with homeowners, the supply chain and financiers as well as collaborative working across relevant Government Departments and Agencies. The Government is committed to continuing to work in a collaborative way with stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the Plan. In addition, a cross-Departmental steering group will be established to oversee and monitor progress against our national targets, and develop new initiatives and policy responses as required.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration will be given to the grouping of homes together, for example neighbours, for the purposes of delivering significant energy upgrades under the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9383/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. 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 and reduced emissions.

These new measures include:

- The establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering 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%).

- Establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a new end-to-end project management service. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant processes; helping with access to finance; engaging the contractors to deliver the work and then quality-assuring that work.

It is expected that the One Stop Shops will be distributed across Ireland, with a considerable number capable of offering services nationwide, due to the network of contractors they are working with throughout the country. Other One Stop Shops are expected to work within geographic regions. This will ensure that every home can benefit from the One Stop Shop service on offer.

The capital funding available for the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is €97 million, with a €40 million allocation in 2022 and €57 million in 2023. This is expected to deliver 2,000 deep energy retrofits to B2 level with a heat pump in 2022 and an additional 3,000 in 2023.

The new one stop shop model is suitable for bringing together groups of homes for aggregated projects thereby creating efficiencies in delivery and developing new innovation in processes and technologies.

Furthermore, the Community Energy Grant Scheme makes grant funding available for community-based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area. The Scheme is designed to support cross-sectoral, partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings, with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.

The total budget for the Community Energy Grant scheme will be €43 million in 2022, of which approximately €15 million will relate to home retrofits. The new grant rates announced under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme will also be available under the Community Energy Grant scheme for homeowners wishing to undertake their energy upgrades as part of a community project

Registration for companies wishing to apply to be a one stop shop is now open. I expect the first One Stop Shops to be registered within the coming weeks. Homeowners can then make applications for upgrades. The call for projects under the Community Energy Grant scheme will be launched shortly.