Written answers
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Environmental Schemes
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
165. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the final amount spent under the warmer homes scheme in 2021; the number of homes upgraded under the scheme; the current number with work in progress; the number in which work is expected to start in 2022; the amount provided for the scheme in 2021 and 2022, respectively; the projected total spend for 2022; the current delay for new applicants; the number of applicants who ##are currently waiting for work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9998/22]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
166. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes upgraded under the warmer homes scheme in 2021, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9999/22]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. In 2021, the average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household had increased significantly to €17,100.A budget allocation of €109 million has been provided for this scheme this year. This will support an increase in the number of free home upgrades, from an average of 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month this year, helping to reduce waiting times and Covid impacted backlogs.
The number of homes upgraded under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme in 2021, by county is set out in the table below.
| County | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Carlow | 25 |
| Cavan | 35 |
| Clare | 40 |
| Cork | 153 |
| Donegal | 116 |
| Dublin | 693 |
| Galway | 80 |
| Kerry | 52 |
| Kildare | 90 |
| Kilkenny | 37 |
| Laois | 21 |
| Leitrim | 23 |
| Limerick | 49 |
| Longford | 21 |
| Louth | 61 |
| Mayo | 64 |
| Meath | 81 |
| Monaghan | 24 |
| Offaly | 30 |
| Roscommon | 43 |
| Sligo | 35 |
| Tipperary | 50 |
| Waterford | 85 |
| Westmeath | 52 |
| Wexford | 110 |
| Wicklow | 55 |
| Total | 2,125 |
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
167. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the final amount spent in each retrofitting scheme under his Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in 2021; the amount provided for; the total spend in 2021; the number of homes that were made more energy efficient in each case where applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10000/22]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
My Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available 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 the 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.
Detailed information in relation to home retrofit schemes for 2021 is set out in the table below. Of course activity was significantly impacted by restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
| SCHEME | CAPITAL ALLOCATION €m | OUTTURNS €m | ACTUAL OUTPUT (Homes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Better Energy Warmer Homes | 100.0 | 38.1 | 2,126 |
| Warmth and Wellbeing | 9.0 | 3.3 | 146 |
| Better Energy Homes | 34.1 | 14.9 | 7,928 |
| Solar PV | 11.0 | 9.8 | 4,089 |
| Better Energy Communities (Community Energy Grants/Sustainable Energy Communities) | 40.0 | 21.8 | 353 |
| Deep Retrofit | 3.4 | 1.2 | 10 |
| National Homes Retrofit | 21.5 | 9.7 | 805 |
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
169. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the projected number of homes to be retrofitted in 2022 under the national retrofitting scheme, by month and scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10002/22]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Government has approved a package of improved 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 emissions.
Included in these measures is 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%).
The total capital funding cost 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 SEAI registration portal for companies to apply to be a One-Stop-Shop is now open. It is expected that the first One-Stop-Shops will be registered in the coming weeks. Homeowners can then make applications for upgrades.
No comments