Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of home retrofits that were completed in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10477/22]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of private residential properties that availed of funding through the national retrofit scheme in 2020 and 2021. [9605/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 122 together.

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.

In 2020, SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes (including the Solar PV scheme) supported 17,600 home energy upgrades. Approximately 15,500 home energy upgrades were supported last year.  It is important to note that activity in both years was significantly impacted by restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government recently announced a range of enhanced SEAI supports for retrofit including a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme. Further information is available at www.seai.ie.