Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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34. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the National Retrofit Steering Group, pursuant to the National Retrofit Plan; the membership of the group; the number of times that it has met to date; the dates of the meetings; the terms of reference of the group; if minutes are taken in respect of the meetings of the group; if so, if they are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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35. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide details of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland scheme, of the number of homes upgraded to a B2 BER or better to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46684/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide details of the progress to date on achieving the target of 500,000 homes retrofitted to a BER of B2 cost optimal or carbon equivalent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46685/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions No. 34 to 36, inclusive, together.

In February the Government 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. This is widely considered to be one of the most ambitious retrofitting programmes in Europe.

The measures address barriers to undertaking energy upgrades (retrofits) reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change needed – in pace and scale of delivery – to achieve our target of 500,000 home energy upgrades, to B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) standard, by 2030. The changes represent an important step in delivery of the National Retrofit Plan, which identifies a range of measures aimed at driving demand for retrofit, expanding the size and capacity of the supply chain, as well as making retrofits more affordable.

The enhanced package of measures to support the uptake of home energy upgrades include:

- A new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard.

- Establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a start-to-finish project management service, including access to financing, for home energy upgrades.

- A significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades provided to those at risk of energy poverty alongside changes to the operation of the Warmer Homes Scheme. This includes ensuring the Scheme prioritises those in the worst performing homes first and opening the Scheme for homeowner ‘revisits’ thereby allowing them apply for deeper energy upgrade measures now available under the scheme.

- A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation has also been introduced for all households. This will help to urgently reduce energy use as part of the Government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.

The investment this year targets almost 27,000 home energy upgrades, including over 8,600 homes to a BER of B2.

Figures provided by the SEAI show that to the end of August 13,406 homes have been completed across the residential energy efficiency schemes (up 70% compared to the same period last year) and of these, 4,234 have been upgraded to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better (up almost 140% compared to the same period last year).

The number of free upgrades provided under the Warmer Homes Scheme each month has more than doubled versus last year. As of the end of August, 2,642 homes have been completed under the Warmer Homes Scheme, and of these 86 have been upgraded to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better.

In addition, since the announcements in February, demand across the SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes has been exceptionally high with a very significant increase in the number of applications year to date when compared to the same period in 2021. Over 30,000 applications for grant support have been received by the SEAI – a 140% increase on the same period last year and this strong pipeline of projects is translating into delivery for the remainder of this year and into 2023.

In relation to heat pumps, across all schemes the number of installations for the years in question are as follows: this year to the end of August: 1,049 and for the years 2019, 2020 & 2021: 1,200, 1,640 and 2,010 respectively.

To accelerate delivery in a number of key areas I am establishing a number of cross government/agency delivery taskforces, to accelerate and drive delivery in key programme areas, one of which, as outlined in the National Energy Security Framework, will focus on the heat sector and built environment. The Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce’s draft Terms of Reference, membership and work programme are currently being finalised, with a view to a meeting of the Taskforce taking place in October 2022.

The aim of the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce will be to accelerate and drive delivery with a focus on:

-Retrofitting;

-Renewable Heat;

-District Heating; and,

-Decarbonisation of Ireland’s building stock.

It is envisaged that the Taskforce will identify all aspects of work on the critical path to accelerate and drive delivery, to ensure alignment in the development of polices and activities underway across Government Departments and to proactively manage risks to ensure targets are achieved. My Department also engages with relevant Government Departments on an ongoing basis in relation to implementation of the National Retrofit Plan.