Average homeowner facing €40,000 bill for 'one-stop-shop' deep retrofit upgrade

The Public Accounts Committee heard on Thursday that there has been a sharp increase in the number of property upgrades this year

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland chief executive William Walsh told the committee that Ireland is starting to feel the “real impact of climate change here in Ireland”, as seen by recent flooding in Cork.

The cost and affordability for households to retrofit their homes is a key risk to meeting vital climate targets, with the average homeowner facing a bill of nearly €40,000 for a “one-stop-shop" deep retrofit upgrade.

The Public Accounts Committee heard on Thursday from representatives from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and members were told that there has been a sharp increase in the number of property upgrades this year as well as the number of grant applications from households.