Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
61. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the updated average cost for retrofitting a social housing unit as part of the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14060/23]
View answer62. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes retrofitted, and heat pumps installed to date as part of the National Retrofitting Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14062/23]
View answerThe 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. As part of the new measures, grants including those for heat pumps were significantly increased.
The cost of a retrofit depends on a range of factors including the size and type of home as well as the age and starting condition of the property and the retrofitting works required or recommended.
Local Authority social housing energy upgrades are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. However, Approved Housing Body (AHB) properties are supported under the SEAI supported National Home Energy Upgrade and Community Energy Grant Schemes. Most recent data from SEAI shows that the average cost for AHB property upgrades is €25,382.
Figures provided by SEAI show that in the period 2019 – 2022, 84,768 home upgrades were supported of which 18,527 were to a B2 level. There were 6,828 heat pumps installed over the same period.
With regard to 2022, as the figures below highlight, there was increased demand across the SEAI supported residential retrofit schemes when compared to 2021 levels:
- 27,200 home energy upgrades were supported in 2022, compared to 15,246 in 2021, representing a 79% increase year-on year.
- Of these, 8,481 upgrades were to a post works Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better, compared to 4,345 in 2021, representing a 95% increase year-on-year.
- 2,272 heat pumps were installed in 2022 compared to 1,972 in 2021, representing a 15% increase year-on-year.
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.
