Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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310. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if any consideration has been given to prioritising retrofits for households that still burn solid fuels for heating and hot water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20667/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Warmer Homes Scheme offers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners who are most at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the SEAI administered scheme. 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. In February, the Government announced its intention to target the worst performing properties under the scheme, by prioritising homes that were built and occupied before 1993 and have a pre-works BER of E, F or G. Existing applications will not be affected by this change. Properties that burn solid fuels are far more likely to be in these worse-performing BER ratings. The Government also recently launched a package of significantly improved supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and lower emissions. The supports include a 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 previous level of 30-35%). A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation, has also been introduced to urgently reduce energy use as part of the Government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices. The supports are available to all homes including those that use solid fuels for heating and hot water.