Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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209. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding grants. [13540/23]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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210. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the better energy home grant for the replacement of heat pumps has been withdrawn; if this grant will be urgently reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13600/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together.

The 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP21) committed to reducing emissions from the residential sector to between 3.5 - 4.5 Mt CO2eq. by 2030, from 7 Mt in 2018. As part of the achievement of this reduction the CAP set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide.

Recognising that the achievement of these targets will require a step-change in the pace and scale of delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, the Government in February 2022 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.

Earlier this month, SEAI advised the Department of an operational rule change to take effect for eligibility for grant support for the installation of a heat pump, whereby the grant will only be paid on homes where solid fuel, oil/gas boiler or electrical heating (other than heat pump) was present, or where there was no heating in situ. The grant will not be paid to replace a heat pump that was previously in the home.

It is important to note that the grants available through SEAI aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were selected as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer.

Over the coming months, the Department and SEAI will examine the broader issues around potential future grant support for heat pumps.