Written answers

Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Schemes

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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86. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will increase the maximum grant threshold for the housing aid for older people and the mobility aid for people with disabilities schemes in view of the significant increase in building costs over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18692/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes.

Housing for All commits to undertaking a review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs both for our ageing population and people with a disability. An initial element of this review has begun and is currently focused on the existing grant limits and income thresholds applicable to the grant schemes. The wider scope of the review, to be completed this year, is also under consideration and is being informed by ongoing engagement with external stakeholders including the Department of Health, the HSE, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disability Federation of Ireland.

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authority homes retrofitted in quarter one of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18748/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The newly revised Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme was introduced in 2021 providing for a 'deeper' retrofit programme designed around the Programme for Government commitment that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes.

Works eligible under the revised Programme include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works.

In 2021 a substantial funding commitment of some €65 million was made available for the Energy Efficiency and Retrofit Programme and the programme will see a significant increase and ramping up of retrofitting works over the next number of years, building on the good work already undertaken by local authorities to date.

In 2022, the EERP will see a significant increase in funding support to €85 million, allowing approximately 2,400 homes nationally to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER). Allocations for the 2022 programme will issue shortly to local authorities.

Statistics in relation from 2013 up to 2021 are available on the link below. As in previous years full details in relation to delivery and funding drawdown for 2022 will be published and available in early 2023. Data in relation to Q1 output for 2022 would not be available at this time.

www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/

www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/

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