Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps which he is taking to reduce the cost of insulating homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47190/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Earlier this year the Government approved a package of significantly enhanced supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. This included increases in grant rates from circa 30% to circa 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 standard and up to 80% of the typical cost for cavity and roof insulation. Data from the SEAI shows that since the launch of the new measures, demand across the retrofit schemes has been exceptionally high. As of end-September:

- Over 35,300 applications for support have been received across all of the SEAI home energy upgrade schemes – a circa 150% increase on the same period last year.

- 16,200 home energy upgrades have been completed – up nearly 70% compared to the same period last year.

- Of this amount, 3,200 homes have been upgraded under SEAI energy poverty schemes – up almost 140% on the same period last year.

- 5,250 homes have been upgraded to a BER of B2 or better – more than double last year.

- Latest projections from SEAI indicate that the target of 27,000 home energy upgrades will be delivered this year. This compares to 15,500 upgrades last year.

My Department is working with the SEAI to build on this strong performance with a robust pipeline of activity planned for the rest of the year and into 2023.

My Department is also engaging with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and the European Investment Bank in relation to the development of a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme. This will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates to private homeowners and non-corporate landlords and make comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable to consumers. It is intended that the loans under the guarantee available in the coming months.

Response 5 of the National Energy Security Framework introduced the nationwide Reduce Your Use campaign which is a programme of communications informing consumers and businesses what actions they can take to reduce their energy demand, how they could lower energy bills and what supports, including retrofit and insulation grants, are available to them. Further information can be found at www.gov.ie.