Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving our national targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030. The Retrofit programme is being funded by the unprecedented National Development Plan financial allocation for residentialretrofitof €8 billion to 2030.

In February 2022 the Government approved a package of significantly enhanced supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. Data from the SEAI shows that since the launch of the new measures, demand across the retrofit schemes has been exceptionally high. Almost 30,000 home energy upgrades were completed to end-August this year. This represents a 124% increase on the same period last year.

My Department is also working with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland, the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund to develop a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme, which will be backed by a counter guarantee provided by the EIB Group. The loan guarantee will provide risk protection to retail credit institutions participating in the scheme and will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates to private homeowners and non-corporate landlords making comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable to consumers. The residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme will be the first consumer-focused guaranteed loan of its kind in Ireland. All stakeholders both at national and European level are committed to finalising the project and it is expected that the loan guarantee will be in place this year.

A Heat and Built Environment Taskforce has been established to accelerate and drive delivery in the area of retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat, decarbonisation and overall energy use needs of the building stock. The overarching aim of the Taskforce is to identify work on the critical path to key targets under each area, ensure alignment in the development of polices and activities underway across Government Departments, and proactively manage risks to ensure targets are achieved.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the scheme on behalf of my Department. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households as quickly as possible is a top priority for my Department and the SEAI.

There are a number of home energy improvements offered as part of the Warmer Home Scheme. The upgrades that will be recommended for a property will depend on many factors, including age, size, type and condition of the property.

However, all of the SEAI approaches are determined by the Building Regulations, incorporating NSAI S.R.54:2014 Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings. This ensures that homes are only provided with measures suitable for their construction type, and avoids problems which can arise when works are not carried out to these standards, such as mould and damp.

For each eligible home, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI)’s technical surveyor will determine which upgrades can be installed and funded. Some homes will receive shallower works and other homes will receive a deeper package of upgrades.

The works that can be provided include:

• Attic insulation and appropriate ventilation;
• Wall insulation and appropriate ventilation – cavity wall, external wall or dry lining depending on the property;
• Secondary measures – lagging jackets, draughtproofing, energy efficient lighting;
• In certain circumstances: heating system replacements, window replacements.