Written answers

Tuesday, 31 May 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Energy Conservation

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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235. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost of retrofitting local authority social homes to a building energy rating B2 or cost optimal equivalent in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [27436/22]

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authority social homes that have been retrofitted to a building energy rating B2 or cost optimal equivalent by local authority in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [27437/22]

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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237. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authority social homes that have been retrofitted with an air source heat pump by local authority in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [27438/22]

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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238. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost of retrofitting local authority social homes with an air source heat pump, by local authority in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [27439/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 236, 237 and 238 together.

Since 2013, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) to support local authorities with the retrofit of local authority owned homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 over 75,000 homes have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €184 million under the scheme.

In response to the Programme for Government commitment, my Department launched a newly revised ten year Energy Efficiency Programme in 2021 for local authority owned housing. This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding being made available for insulation, windows and doors and heating upgrades, specifically the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the energy efficiency programme funded by my Department.

An annualised breakdown of the total funding provided and the number of properties upgraded under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit programme for the years 2013-2021 is available on my Department's website at the following link:

My Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme in 2020-2022, the details of which are found below. A further 146 properties were retrofitted to a BER of B2/ Cost Optimal Equivalent and these figures are in addition to the National Retrofit Programme.

The 2021 Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme provided funding for the installation of 604 heat pumps, while the Midlands Retrofit Pilot allowed for the installation of heat pumps on all 146 properties. The funding available for the installation of a heat pump last year was €13,000. This has been increased to €16,000 for the 2022 programme.

Earlier this year, my Department announced that funding of €85 million will be provided for the upgrade of approximately 2,400 social homes in 2022. Each local authority received an individual allocation along with a minimum target of homes they are required to retrofit. The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit ranging from those requiring minor levels of works to properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting required to bring them to a B2/cost Optimum standard.

Under the 2022 EERP programme, my Department funds costs of up to €48,850, plus project management fees, on individual local authority homes. The actual cost of retrofitting works on each home will depend on its pre-works BER but can be as low as €16,350 in some cases. Targets set and funding allocated to local authorities under the new programme calls for local authorities to undertake retrofitting on a variety of house types, from those requiring minimal investment to those requiring major investment, in order to achieve the B2/Cost Optimal BER. Local authorities are asked to ensure that the average cost per home drawn down under the programme is circa €36,000, including project management fees. Adhering to this average will ensure that the maximum number of homes can be retrofitted with the available budget. 

Work in relation to the 2022 programme is underway but it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2022 EERP will be available early in 2023.  

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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239. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the breakdown of the building energy ratings achieved by homes retrofitted through the Midlands Retrofit Programme in 2021 and 2022; and the reason for the underspend in addition to the Covid-19 pandemic. [27440/22]

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authority social homes that have been retrofitted to a building energy rating B2 or cost optimal equivalent through the Midlands Retrofit Programme, by local authority in tabular form. [27441/22]

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of homes, broken down by BER rating, prior to their retrofitting under the Midlands Retrofit Programme in 2021 and 2022, by local authority; the number of homes, broken down by BER rating, after their retrofitting under the Midlands Retrofit Programme in 2021 and 2022, by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27442/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 240, 239 and 241 together.

In 2020 funding of €20 million was made available for an energy efficiency retrofitting programme to  upgrade approximately 750 dwellings in the midlands, under the 'Just Transition' programme. The Midlands Retrofit Programme (MRP) was established as a pilot programme to provide learning on the move to B2/Cost Optimal retrofitting, test the benefit of focusing on upgrading larger batches of homes in distinct, compact geographical areas whilst simultaneously providing an economic stimulus to the counties most affected by the cessation of peat harvesting for electricity generation.  

The Programme experienced significant delays due to the effects of COVID-19 and associated difficulties including tendering and supply chain issues. It delivered 146 retrofit homes in 2021 and will finish at the end of 2022.

The tables below give a breakdown of pre and post works BERs by local authority area for the 146 properties completed in 2021. Minimal funding has been recouped to date to local authorities under the programme. Full details will be provided in early 2023 when the programme is completed and all claims from local authorities have been received and processed.

Local Authority Pre-Works BER Rating
Galway County 56
B3 1
C1 7
C2 5
C3 21
D1 10
D2 3
E1 3
E2 2
F 1
G 3
Kildare 20
C1 5
C3 8
D1 1
D2 1
E1 1
F 4
Offaly 18
C3 1
D2 1
E2 7
F 5
G 4
Roscommon 40
D2 9
E1 13
E2 11
F 3
*Not Available 4
Tipperary 12
C1 2
D2 1
E1 4
F 5
Grand Total 146
Local Authority Post works BER rating
Galway County 56
A1  9
A2 4
B2 43
Kildare 20
B1 2
B2 18
Offaly 18
A3 9
B1 5
B2 4
Roscommon 40
A3 4
B1 7
B2 29
Tipperary 12
B1 10
B2 2
Grand Total 146

*There are four Pre-BERs not available for one Local Authority.

An annualisedbreakdown of the units retrofitted under both the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme and Midlands Retrofit Programme, is available on my Department's website at the following link:

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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242. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 684 of 26 April 2022, the definition of deep retrofit and shallow retrofit as referenced in the document linked in the response; the average works completed under both shallow and deep retrofits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27443/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding retrofit of local authority owned homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 over 75,000 homes have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €184 million under the scheme.

Up to 2020, the EERP was carried out in two Phases:

- Phase 1provided funding targeted at cavity wall/attic insulation.

- Phase 2 focused on fabric upgrade works to those dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction and included the provision of some heating upgrades.

The majority of the 75,000 homes retrofitted to date have been retrofitted under Phase 1 involving cavity wall and attic insulation often called a 'shallow retrofit'.

In 2021 my Department moved away from the shallow retrofits under the previous phases to a 'deeper retrofit' based on a holistic approach, 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.

This involves the implementation of measures as per the schedule of eligible works, such as, external wall insulation, attic insulation and the installation of a heat pump which allow for a property to reach a BER of B2 cost optimal and is reflected in the updated information published on the link below.

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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243. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated carbon emissions savings from the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme, annually from 2013 to date in tabular form. [27444/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme in 2013 with the aim of funding retrofit of local authority owned homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 over 75,000 homes have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €184 million under the scheme.

The scheme will also help Ireland meet its commitments in relation to carbon emissions.  Increasing the numbers of homes retrofitted will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector and will help Ireland reach its greenhouse gas emissions targets over the next decade.

Information available on carbon emissions savings associated with this expenditure can be accessed at the following link:

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