I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.
The Climate Action Plan sets out policies, measures and actions to be taken to achieve sectoral emissions ceilings for the residential sector. These measures include the retrofit of existing homes and installation of heat pumps to support the achievement of the required emissions reductions.
My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners improving the energy efficiency of their buildings, and to promote the adoption of renewable energy systems. These schemes include grants for the fabric upgrade of buildings (e.g. insulation), as well as solar PV and heat pump installation.
The most recent SEAI data show that emissions from the residential sector are likely to remain within their sectoral ceiling in the first carbon budget period (to end 2025).
My Department continues to build on the progress achieved in recent years. Since 2019, there has been a record level of over €1.6 billion invested in SEAI schemes to support almost 240,000 home energy upgrades, including over 81,000 BER B2s, 18,000 heat pump installations and over 32,000 fully-funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme. In addition, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funded a further 14,300 Local Authority upgrades, including over 7,250 heat pumps between 2019 to 2024.
The Programme for Government 2025 commits to ramping up the delivery of retrofitting towards the achievement of 2030 targets set out under the Climate Action Plan and the National Retrofit Plan. This includes revising and improving the provision of grants and financing models for homeowners who wish to retrofit, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing costs; as well as the supporting of group retrofitting projects and area-based approaches to retrofitting.
The most recently published data for SEAI residential and community energy retrofit programmes by year, scheme, county, measure type and more can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/home-upgrades
