Written Answers Nos. 60-76
60. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a single individual or entity is eligible for retrofits on multiple residences under the SEAI’s retrofitting programme; to provide a breakdown of eligibility criteria under each of the SEAI’s retrofitting programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36036/24]
View answerMy Department funds a number of schemes administered by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support households and the community sector to improve the energy efficiency of their properties: individual energy upgrade grants under the Better Energy Homes Scheme; the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme for an end-to-end service through One Stop Shops and the Community Energy Grant scheme for energy efficiency upgrades as part of a community project. There are also fully funded upgrades for qualifying households.
Homeowners, landlords and Approved Housing Bodies may apply for support for more than one home subject to the properties meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.
Different eligibility requirements apply to each SEAI scheme. Details on the eligibility rules that apply are available on the SEAI website - Energy Efficient Homes - Home Energy Upgrades And Grants | SEAI .
61. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the update to the guidelines for the community energy grant scheme in June to specifically allow for applications from real estate investment trusts and commercial landlords to upgrade multi-unit dwellings; if real estate investment trusts commercial landlords were eligible for retrofitting grants up to this point or had they accessed them via a different avenue; if so, the breakdown of grants awarded; the breakdown of the average value of awards; the breakdown of the average incentive level for unit upgrades; if this was consistently 30% of eligible costs in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36106/24]
View answer62. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the guidelines to the community energy grant scheme in June to specifically allow for applications from real estate investment trusts and commercial landlords upgrade multi-unit dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36107/24]
View answer84. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown of funding allocated to retrofit multi-unit dwellings by commercial organisations under the community energy grant scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36281/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 62 and 84 together.
The Community Energy Grant is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
The 2024 guidelines for the Scheme set out the supports available to upgrade Multi-Unit Dwellings (MUDs). MUDs owned by Approved Housing Bodies or Community organisations can receive 50% of eligible costs. MUDs that are either partially or fully owned by Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and/or other commercial landlords can receive 30% of eligible costs in line with other commercial operations under CEG. REITs have been eligible to apply for support under the scheme in previous years.
SEAI advises that in 2023, circa. 100 rental properties were upgraded with support from the CEG scheme. My Department does not hold data providing a further breakdown of this number by landlord type.
63. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has a policy, or has issued guidance to staff on the use of artificial intelligence, large language model, natural language processing, generative or otherwise, or products based thereon in the course of their duties; if this has been communicated to staff; if he will publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36139/24]
View answerMy Department continues to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.), and are following recommendations provided in June 2023.
All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. No licenses or subscriptions to AI tools have been purchased to date.
64. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department, or any agency under his auspices, has ever used any artificial intelligence software in the preparation of response to parliamentary questions, or in responses to any correspondence from outside the organisation; the details of same if applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36158/24]
View answerAll applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. No licenses or subscriptions to AI tools have been purchased to date. Any material referenced above will not have been created using AI within DECC systems.
My Department does not use artificial intelligence in drafting the material specified in the question.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
65. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the better energy warmer homes scheme in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36262/24]
View answer66. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the better energy community grant scheme in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36263/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together.
My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their existing properties. The schemes offer grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy upgrades for people at risk of energy poverty. Improving these homes has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light.
The Building Regulations require that when 25% or more of a building's envelope surface is renovated (such as when wall insulation is installed, including under an energy upgraded supported by SEAI), the whole building's energy performance must be upgraded to the cost-optimal level. This is as far as it is technically, functionally and economically possible.
A cost-optimal study is required under the European Performance of Buildings Directive to define the energy performance required for new buildings and major renovations. The study accounts for the capital, operational, maintenance and carbon costs of various energy efficient solutions and renewable technologies. Ireland’s most recent cost-optimal study has defined the cost-optimal level for major renovations as either:
• a B2 BER; or
• an upgrade of the ceiling insulation and heating system.
To comply with Building Regulations, where a major renovation is taking place the whole home must be upgraded to cost-optimal level through one of the options above. The table below sets out the average costs in relation to cost-optimal and B2 or better upgrades under the Warmer Homes scheme in 2024. Data in relation to 2022 and 2023 is not readily available, I have asked SEAI to forward this data to the Deputy, if available, by way of direct reply.
|
Warmer Homes Scheme - Upgrade Type |
Average cost excluding VAT |
|
Major renovation to cost-optimal, B2 or better post-works BER |
€42,327 |
|
Major renovation to cost-optimal, post-works BER below B2 |
€38,387 |
|
Any upgrade work, B2 or better post-works BER |
€29,337 |
The Communities Energy Grant scheme supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.
To be eligible for funding under the Community Energy grant scheme all homes are required to meet minimum final BER of B2 as well as achieving a minimum BER uplift of 100kWh/m2/year.
The table below from SEAI shows the average cost to achieve a B2 BER under the Community Energy Grant scheme in years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024.
|
SEAI Community Energy Grants |
Average Costs for B2s including VAT |
|
2022 |
€ 32,814 |
|
2023 |
€ 60,809 |
|
2024 |
€ 56,478 |
It should be noted that under the Community Energy Grant scheme the works costs are based on declarations from the homeowners and contractors. The costs can vary depending on a range of factors. Additionally, homeowners may carry out non-grant aided/non energy related works as part of the same upgrade. Therefore, the costs set out above may be in excess of the costs relating to the retrofit works only. The amounts paid out per grant-aided measure by SEAI are fixed irrespective of the costs declared.
67. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the domestic solar PV scheme in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36264/24]
View answerThe table below gives the breakdown of the average cost to install solar PV that led to an energy uplift of BER B2 or higher for 2020 to date. These figures are provided by the SEAI. It should be noted that these costs represent the value of Solar PV systems as entered by Solar PV installers during the grant application process and are excluding the grant. Furthermore, the achievement of a BER rating of B2 or higher, following the installation of Solar PV, will depend on the BER rating of the home prior to the installation of a Solar PV system.
|
Metric |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024(August) |
|
Average Cost to install, for those who achieved B2 BER |
€10,745 |
€10,317 |
€12,010 |
€12,313 |
€11,389 |
68. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about workforce planning in the SEAI; to provide a breakdown of the full-year cost of employing one FTE, per staffing grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36265/24]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was established under the Sustainable Energy Act of 2002. The Authority is a body corporate with functions and responsibilities as set out under Section 6 of the Act, which include inter alia promoting and assisting;
• environmentally and economically sustainable production, supply and use of energy,
• energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy,
• the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
• minimising of the impact on the environment of the production, supply and use of energy,
• research, development, and demonstration of relevant technologies.
The SEAI also has a role to provide advice, information and guidance to the Minister, Government Departments and agencies, energy suppliers, and energy users.
SEAI is funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Transport. In 2024 the Agency’s total budget allocation is over €600 million.
SEAI is key to informing, supporting, implementing, and delivering Government energy policy and the Climate Action Plan. The programmes administered by SEAI have a major impact on the Irish economy through home and community energy upgrades, business supports, research and innovation funding, and Electric Vehicle (EV) grants. SEAI has also been designated as the National Retrofit Delivery Body. In this role, the SEAI act as the lead agency in driving the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit targets.
While a cohort of staff within SEAI are involved in a range of administrative functions that support schemes, the agency is also assisted by a service provider that provides the front-end customer service.
Please find below figures as requested, based on fulltime equivalent headcount and median cost per grade plus employer PRSI.
|
Grade |
CEO |
Director |
Level F |
Level E |
SSO |
Eng 11 |
Level D |
Level C |
|
Headcount FTE |
1 |
4 |
14 |
63 |
3 |
18.7 |
120.8 |
9.8 |
|
Cost per 1 FTE (Median + ER PRSI) |
192,414 |
153,678 |
126,558 |
100,160 |
96,515 |
88,477 |
68,597 |
49,497 |
SEAI continue to enhance their staffing levels consistent with the scaling up of capacity to support the significant policy developments announced in recent years under the Climate Acton Plan and National Retrofit Plan. The funding provided to the SEAI brought staff levels close to 235 by the end of 2023, in line with their Workforce Plan 2021-2023.
|
SEAI – 2020-2024 WTEs |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Total |
93.1 |
125.5 |
170 (195 Sanctioned) |
227* (235 Sanctioned) |
235 YTD (255 Sanctioned) |
A workforce plan was submitted by SEAI to my Department in 2023. This is currently under consideration by my Department in the context of planning for the future growth of the organisation.
69. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about workforce planning in the Commission for Regulation of Utilities; to provide a breakdown the full-year cost of employing one FTE, per staffing grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36266/24]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister.
While CRU is financed by means of a levy on regulated entities, it must receive approval from the Minister for the Environment, Climate & Communications and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform, in consultation with the Department of Housing Local Government & Heritage, for staffing levels.
Please see below a table of the breakdown of the full year cost of one Full Time Employee of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities per staffing grade:
|
Grade |
*Average cost to employ one person at this grade |
|
|
Commissioner |
€ 241,880 |
|
|
Director |
€ 218,100 |
|
|
Senior Manager |
€ 145,600 |
|
|
Managers |
€ 121,000 |
|
|
Senior Inspector |
€ 124,500 |
|
|
Inspector |
€ 108,400 |
|
|
Professional/Specialist |
€ 108,400 |
|
|
Senior Analyst |
€ 82,300 |
|
|
Analyst |
€ 64,000 |
|
|
Graduate Analyst |
€ 49,600 |
|
|
Admin Level B |
€ 58,400 |
|
|
Admin Level C |
€ 47,000 |
|
|
Total |
€ 1,369,180 |
*Cost to employ one person per grade calculated using an average of salary increments for that grade including employer expenses rounded to the nearest €100.
CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members at oireachtas@cru.ie, which enables them to raise more specific operational and resourcing matters directly to the CRU.
70. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about workforce planning at the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority; to provide a breakdown of the full-year cost of employing one FTE, per staffing grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36267/24]
View answerThe Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was established 17 July 2023. The agency has regulatory functions in the marine area that form part of a new approach to marine planning established by the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021.
The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 at Section 64(1) provides that:
“64. (1) The MARA may, with the consent of the Minister given with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, appoint such and so many persons to be members of the staff of the MARA as it may determine”.
The MARA provided for a structure of a CEO plus 74 staff in its workforce plan and for which sanction has been provided by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform.
At June 2024, the MARA report its staff complement was 45 and is estimated to reach 58 by end year. Recruitment and staffing remain a priority for MARA. The agency is actively recruiting and it notes structures will reflect learnings from the first year of operation and be informed by the demand for MARA’s services.
The MARA salary scales are aligned with civil servant grades. The following table outlines the full year costs for FTE based on civil servant median rates for 2024:
|
CEO |
PO |
AP |
HEO |
AO |
EO |
CO |
Senior Marine Advisor ( Engineer Grade 1) |
|
168,937 |
114,830 |
87,044 |
63,164 |
52,712 |
46,729 |
37,004 |
90,221 |
71. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost for a renewable energy community to connect to the grid in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36268/24]
View answerThe information requested in the Question is not held by my Department. Responsibility for the arrangements for and cost of connecting to the electricity network, including for community energy projects, is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The management of connections to the electricity grid are matters for ESB Networks and EirGrid, under rules determined by the CRU.
Grid connection availability and cost remains a major challenge for community and small-scale renewable projects, which do not have the economy of scale advantages of larger projects.
The regulatory framework for grid connections for renewable community energy projects needs to be reviewed in order to develop a strong pipeline of community energy projects that is consistent with the Climate Action Plan target of 500 MW of community energy projects by 2030 and the supports to be provided for under the Small Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).
CRU is in the process of drafting a new electricity connection policy that will consider such issues and it is understood that this is due to be published by the end of September.
One of the aims of the new electricity generation connection policy is to better facilitate mini-generation, small-scale generation, and renewable energy communities. It is critical that the revised regulatory policy facilitates a sustainable and vibrant community renewable energy sector.
Under the Community Enabling Framework SEAI has also recently undertaken seven grid studies on a county basis to support communities in identifying sites within their locality that are most likely to have an economically viable grid connection.
72. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about workforce planning in the Environmental Protection Agency; to provide a breakdown the full-year cost of employing one FTE, per staffing grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36269/24]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and is entirely independent in the exercise of its functions.
The Agency is an independent corporate entity having full responsibility under law for the performance of its functions and the discharge of its governance and other responsibilities.
The EPA Staff compliment is comprised of several different grade levels. The table below sets out the average full years cost for each of these grades.
|
EPA Grade Level |
Salary Level - Mid Point € |
|
Level 1 |
113,965 |
|
Level 2 |
92,672 |
|
Level 3 |
79,673 |
|
Level 4 |
63,892 |
|
Level 5 |
47,439 |
|
Level 6 |
37,874 |
73. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the retrofitting of solid fuel homes; the number of solid fuel homes that were retrofitted in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, broken down per SEAI scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36270/24]
View answer74. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the retrofitting of solid fuel homes; the number of solid fuel homes that were retrofitted with heat pumps; the number of solid fuels homes that have been retrofitted with a heat pump in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, broken down per SEAI scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36271/24]
View answer76. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the pre-BER and post-BER rating of solid fuel homes retrofitted as part of the SEAI retrofitting programme, broken down by SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36273/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 74 and 76 together.
I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Questions No. Dáil ref: 135 & Dáil ref: 136 of 9 September 2024. The position remains unchanged from that set out there-in whereby the specific data sought by the Deputy is not routinely provided to my Department by SEAI. Hence, I have directed SEAI to reply directly to the Deputy with the data requested, in so far as it is available, as soon as possible.
75. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the installation of solar PV as part of the Government’s retrofitting scheme; to provide a breakdown of solar PV installed as part of the Government’s retrofitting programme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, broken down per SEAI scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36272/24]
View answerSolar PV panels are installed under a number of scenarios and are supported under a number of Department funded and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administered schemes.
Supports for Solar PV panels are available under the dedicated domestic solar PV scheme, which offers grants of up to €2,100 to all homeowners in homes built before 2021.
The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), was launched in February 2022 to support up to 380 MW of new micro-generation by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan 21 and built on the success of the previous pilot version of the grant scheme. The domestic scheme has proved enormously successful since its launch, and further aided by the Government decision to apply a zero percent VAT rate for the ‘Supply and installation of solar panels, since May 2023.
|
Scheme |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024(Aug End) |
|
Community Energy Grants |
(1) |
53 |
198 |
140 |
|
|
Solar PV Scheme |
2,916 |
4,077 |
10,017 |
22,214 |
18,431 |
|
OSS Service (including Pilots) |
(1) |
25 |
296 |
313 |
|
|
SEAI Homes Programmes |
2,916 |
4,077 |
10,095 |
22,708 |
18,884 |
SEAI continuously reviews and refines the reporting methodology and definition of key metrics to improve the accuracy and quality of insights. This may result in minor adjustments to previously reported figures.
(1) No measure level breakdown available for Community Energy Grants, Deep Retrofit, or One Stop Shop Pilot (prior to 2022).
