Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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163. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of heat loss indicator assessments completed under the SEAI home retrofitting programmes on a monthly basis; the average cost of the works to be completed based on the HLI assessment each month; the number of applications that have been proceeded with following the HLI on a monthly basis; the number for grant payments for the completion of works paid to date on a monthly basis and the grant paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56654/22]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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164. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of expressions of interest received on a monthly basis for home retrofitting under the one-stop-shop route; the number of heat loss indicator assessments completed each month by such applicants; the average cost of works to be completed each month; the numbers of homes priced for the delivery of works each month and the average price of works; the number of homes which have proceeded to contract each month and the average price of such works; the rate of construction inflation since the introduction of the new retrofitting scheme; the number of homes completed on a monthly basis, the average cost and average grant paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56655/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.

Earlier this year, the Government approved a package of significantly improved 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 and lower emissions.

The key measures 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 (up from 30%-35% grants currently).

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

- In addition, the year of construction has been amended to bring the relevant SEAI schemes into alignment.

Heat Loss Indicators determine how well insulated a home is: the lower the heat loss, the more effective the building is at preventing heat loss through the walls, windows, roof and floor. Heat pumps work most effectively in well insulated homes. When the heat loss is high, heat pumps require more electrical power and are more expensive to run.

Therefore, to avail of the heat pump grant under the Better Energy Homes scheme/One-Stop-Shop scheme, a technical or Home Energy Assessment (both of which include assessment of the Heat Loss Indicator) is required. The assessment may recommend upgrading to ensure the home achieves a B2 rating or is suitable for installation of a heat pump, or what other upgrades can be done to make it suitable. To date this year, almost 1,400 applications have been received for Home Energy Assessments under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, this overall figure includes homes completed and those in progress. In addition, under the Better Energy Homes Scheme, grant funding support has been provided for 934 Technical Assessments and these relate to homes which have also had a heat pump installed this year.

The cost of bringing an individual home to a BER B2 is determined by a number of factors including the size and type of home, the starting condition of the home and the recommendations of the Home Energy Assessment.  In terms of the average grant offer, and by way of example, the most recent figures from SEAI show that, under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, the average home energy grant offer is €24,000. However, it is important to note that this average may fluctuate depending on the applications submitted to the SEAI.

To date, inflation does not appear to have dampened demand for the SEAI residential energy efficiency schemes though this will be kept under review. This will include monitoring costs and inflation on an ongoing basis and ensuring that grant rates are kept under review taking account of the overarching need to build a much bigger home upgrade sector, evolving science, innovation, evolving technology and other relevant factors. An independent quantity surveyor review of market costs is due to be commissioned by SEAI before the end of the year.

Figures from SEAI indicate that, to end of October:

- Almost 41,000 applications for support have been received – a 152% increase on the same period last year.

-Over 18,400 home energy upgrades have been completed – a 59% increase on the same period last year.

-Over 3,600 homes been upgraded under SEAI energy poverty schemes – a 122% increase on the same period last year.

- Almost 6,000 homes have been upgraded to a BER of B2 or better – a 79% increase on the same period last year

-Among the overall energy upgrades completed to date this year, 1,341 have included the installation of heat pumps.

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.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the extraordinary delays with applications to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (details supplied); if he will ensure this work is carried out before the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56666/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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While the administration and management of applications under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI and I as Minister, have no function with regard to individual grant applications, the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries such as this from Oireachtas members so important queries such as this can be addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. I would urge the Deputy to pursue this matter directly with SEAI through following dedicated email address is oireachtas@seai.ie.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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166. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 67 of 8 November 2022, if there is any mechanism for persons and families living in multi-resident accommodation in which there are separate electricity meters but only one MPRN number to receive the electricity credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56667/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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167. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 67 of 8 November 2022, if persons and families living in multi-resident accommodation in which there are two MPRN numbers on the one postcode will each receive the full energy credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56668/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.

The Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme payment will be applied to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2). The scheme uses the single identifier of the Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN) to ensure it can be administered automatically and without an application/approval process. This mechanism allowed payments to be made automatically to 2,138,939 domestic electricity accounts (as identified by their individual MPRN), which was over 99.36% of eligible accounts, under the first scheme which operated between April and June of this year.

While the majority of residential tenants will hold their own domestic electricity accounts, and therefore receive the credit directly, others could have tenancy agreements where tenants pay their actual share of each bill and, in those cases, will benefit from the payment because the amount of the bill will be reduced by the amount of the payment. A small proportion could have other arrangements in place whereby electricity costs are part of the rental cost. Where tenants have a dispute relating to tenancies including any terms relating to electricity payments, these can be referred to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for dispute resolution. As there is not data set identifying this cohort, increasing awareness of entitlements of existing social protection measures, which include provision for help with household bills, is an important way of supporting people in this situation.