Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022
226. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he examined the inclusion of a household income cap in the new National Retrofit Scheme; if so, the income caps that were examined by his Department; the estimated number of households that would be excluded under each income cap if the cap was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8169/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving the Climate Action Plan targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030.
In line with commitments in the Retrofit Plan, the Government recently approved 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. The measures address barriers, including financial barriers, to undertaking energy upgrades reported by homeowners and those working in the industry.
The National Retrofit Plan outlines that new and improved SEAI grant schemes will be a central element of the Government’s strategy to encourage all homeowners living in less efficient homes to carry out an upgrade. The suite of initiatives announced last week represents the most significant reform of SEAI grant schemes since their establishment. An Exchequer investment of €8 billion to 2030 will fund the initiatives and will enable the supply chain to scale up, creating thousands of high quality jobs in communities throughout the country.
Significant support will continue to be made available to lower income households and social housing tenants in the form of free energy upgrades. This year, 58% (€203 million) of the total Government retrofit budget of €352 million will be spent on dedicated energy poverty retrofit supports and local authority retrofits.
Imposing new additional income limits and means testing were not considered as part of the design of the new upgrade Scheme.
