Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the 2023 guidelines for the better energy communities scheme will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62160/22]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

189. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the dates the 2023 better energy communities scheme is to be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62161/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take questions 188 and 189 together. The Communities Energy Grant Scheme is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Scheme supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.

Demand for the CEG Scheme has been very strong since the launch of this year’s Call for Projects in March. To date, 17 contracts with a grant value of over €42 million have been issued by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and a further 7 applications are currently under evaluation within the SEAI. All of which points to a strong pipeline of works under the scheme for the remainder of this year and into 2023.

The Community Energy Grant Scheme guidelines for 2023 will be updated shortly to reflect the changing environment and ensure that the programme continues to target and support our communities. It is intended that the new guidelines will be in place in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the SEAI has confirmed that the Community Energy Grant Scheme remains open to applications from interested organisations.

The SEAI advise that live updates are available for project coordinators for the Community Energy Grant Scheme on the SEAI web site: www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants/project-criteria-and-funding/grant-tracker/?__toolbar=1.