Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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424. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many local authority homes were retrofitted in 2022, and in Q1 2023, by area, in tabular form. [24491/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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425. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the post-retrofit BER status of local authority homes retrofitted in 2022, and in Q1 2023, by area, in tabular form. [24492/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.

The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a BER of B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme out to 2030. €85 million of Exchequer funding was made available to local authorities in 2022, which provided a significant increase in funding available under the Programme of €20 million when compared with 2021.

In 2022, 1,948 properties were retrofitted under the EERP and an additional 335 properties were retrofitted under the Midlands Retrofit Pilot Programme (MRP), giving a total of 2,283 properties retrofitted to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER and a total exchequer spend across both programmes of over €64 million. Details in relation to an individual dwellings post works BER may be available from a relevant Local Authority. A breakdown of the funding provided and the output per local authority is also available on my Department’s website at the following links:

EERP: www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/#

MRP: www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/

Work in relation to the 2023 programme is ongoing, however, it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2023 Energy Efficiency Programme will be published on my Department’s website in due course.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the guidance on improving energy efficiency in traditional buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24493/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is preparing a guidance document on Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings. A Project Steering Group, chaired by Built Heritage Policy, was established to oversee the preparation of the guidance and includes representatives from:

- The Built Heritage Policy and Climate Action Policy sections of my Department

- The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

- The Department of Education and Skills

- The Heritage Council

- SEAI

- The Office of Public Works

The guidance document is well-advanced and closing comments are being sought from the Steering Group prior to the preparation of the final draft. It is expected that the Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings guidance document will be ready for publication before the end of 2023.