Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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76.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will apply the necessary changes to his recently announced enhanced home energy upgrade grant for those with defective blocks to ensure applicants with prior approval do not lose thousands of euros of grant funding to avoid serious financial debt being enforced upon them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31803/24]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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77.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason cuts were made to the amount available in the enhanced home energy upgrade grant for those with defective blocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31804/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together.

On 11 June 2024, the Government approved a number of exceptions to relevant SEAI retrofit scheme rules to apply exclusively to homeowners receiving support under the Enhanced DCB Scheme. These exceptions were introduced in order to help the homeowners to access the SEAI grants.

The Community Energy Grant (CEG) Scheme offers enhanced/higher grant levels for eligible homeowners in or at risk of energy poverty.

It is my intention that eligible DCB homeowners for the energy poverty grant levels will be able to access those enhanced/higher grant rates through the CEG scheme. I plan to bring a Memo to Government on this matter in early September to confirm this.

In the meantime, SEAI is happy to engage directly with impacted homeowners on a case by case basis to discuss their particular circumstances. A specific page on the SEAI website provides further information for DCB affected homeowners. Individuals can also contact the SEAI at a dedicated DCB phone number (01 8082004) or by email at .

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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78.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes upgraded to BER B2 under SEAI retrofitting in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31820/24]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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79.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of heat pumps installed annually in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31821/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 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.

Budget 2024 has provided €437.2 million for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes to support property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties this year. Figures from SEAI show that for the period from January 2023 to end June 2024:

• 27,755 homes supported have achieved a B2 Building Energy Rating or better.
• 5,569 homes supported under the SEAI grants have installed heat pumps installed.