Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has put restrictions on the work of obligated entities to support household energy upgrades; if he will identify these; and the reason that he has introduced those restrictions, particularly at a time when the European Union has demanded urgent and immediate reductions in energy use which can be most easily achieved by shallow measures. [49825/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) requires certain energy companies to support household energy upgrades and is in place to deliver part of Ireland’s targets under the Energy Efficiency Directive. This is currently the case and will continue to be the case under the newly redesigned scheme which is being introduced in January 2023. The redesigned scheme was informed by an extensive public consultation which was held in March/April 2021. Regulations to underpin the new scheme will be published very soon and guidance sessions and further detail for obligated parties in relation to the operation of the scheme will be available then. The Government recognises the importance of shallow measures in reducing household energy demand and this is reflected in the enhanced grant rates of 80% which are available specifically for these types of measures (i.e. attic insulation and cavity wall insulation) since February of this year. A total budget of €337 million has been made available for the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes next year including free upgrades for homeowners at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes scheme.