Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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217. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the very considerable savings that would accrue to the Exchequer and consumers if a mixed technology approach was adopted for the Government’s retrofitting scheme, which currently only covers heat pumps, to include lower carbon fuel options such as liquified petroleum gas and bio-liquified petroleum gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29445/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP21) committed to reducing emissions from the residential sector to between 3.5 - 4.5 Mt CO2eq. by 2030, from 7 Mt in 2018. As part of the achievement of this reduction the CAP set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal or carbon equivalent and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030.  This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide. Recognising that the achievement of these targets will require a step-change in the pace and scale of delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, the Government has approved a package of 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.

To support the overarching policy objectives, the grants available to homeowners are focused towards those measures which will be most effective in reducing energy use, reducing carbon emissions and reaching the targets set out in the Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan. Heat pumps are extremely efficient and very economical to run offering lower energy costs to homeowners as well as reduced carbon emissions.

The SEAI published the National Heat Study on 22 February 2022. The study considered a number of potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwelling and business types. This included the use of liquid biofuels, solid biomass, biogases and other technologies such as heat pumps and district heating networks.  The Study, which was prepared at my Department’s request, contains detailed analysis which will now facilitate the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors to 2050.