Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how many homes have availed of the national home energy upgrade scheme in 2022 and to date in 2023. [15682/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how many homes have availed of the free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty in 2022 and to date in 2023. [15683/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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67. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how many community energy grants have been delivered in 2022 and to date in 2023. [15684/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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68. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how many homes have availed of the new home energy upgrade scheme in 2022 and to date in 2023. [15685/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 to 68, inclusive, together.

The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan 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.

To promote and incentivise the achievement of these targets, in February 2022, Government launched 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.

Following the introduction of the new measures, demand across the SEAI grant supported schemes was exceptionally high in 2022 and to date this year with data from SEAI showing:

- 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported in 2022, compared to 15,246 in 2021, representing a 79% increase year-on year. To end of February 2023, 6,125 home energy upgrades have been delivered.

- In 2022, 4,438 homes were delivered across the fully funded schemes which represents an increase of 85% on the number supported in 2021. 466 home energy upgrades have been completed under the Warmer Homes Scheme to the end of February 2023.

- There were 8,481 home upgrades to a BER B2 in 2022, representing a 95% increase year-on-year. Figures to the end of February 2023, show 2,047 homes have been upgraded to a post work BER of B2 or better.

- In 2022, 643 home energy upgrades were completed under the NHEUS (National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme). Under the Scheme, 145 home energy upgrades have been completed as at end of February 2023.

- 24 contracts were agreed under the Community Energy Grant in 2022. Last year 295 home energy upgrades were completed along with 53 non-domestic projects. There is a strong pipeline of works in place for 2023 under these contracts and first batch of home energy upgrades for 2023 is expected by the end of April.

A more detailed overview of the SEAI 2022 performance against annual targets on the residential and community energy efficiency schemes can be found in their recently published quarterly report, which can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/news-and-media/home-energy-upgrades-2022/

My Department is working with SEAI to build on the strong performance of 2022. A record €356 million in funding has been allocated to SEAI for residential and community retrofit for 2023 to support the delivery of 37,000 retrofits this year.