Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a person with stone wall cladding can access SEAI retrofitting grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19787/23]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister if a person with stone-wall cladding can access an SEAI retrofitting grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I appreciate the question. I do not have the answer from the Department to hand but I will commit to look at the option of such grants or support being provided for stone wall cladding. I look forward to receiving from the Deputy more specific details that might inform the approach we will take in delivering such a service to the Irish people.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I want to find out if there is a specific scheme to provide internal or external insulation for stone walls. I have been contacted by constituents who want to insulate their properties. Many of these properties are old and many of the people involved are older. We know the cost of heating these properties, given the cold and damp. People can put in all the windows and doors they want into these homes but if the walls are not insulated, the heat is just going out through them. Will the Minister give a commitment to ensure that a retrofitting grant is available? The big issue with trying to insulate these properties is the extremely high cost. I ask the Minister to support people. This is something we want to see done. We want to see homes insulated, we want to reduce energy usage and we want to have people in warmer and cleaner houses.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I thank Deputy Gould for asking the question, which I know he has raised previously in the House. My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Contractors operating under any scheme supported by an SEAI grant must carry out the works in line with the domestic technical standards and specifications, as well as best practice and technical guidance documents, including NSAI S.R. 54, the 2014 code of practice for the energy efficient retrofitting of dwellings.

The SEAI has informed my officials that there is no rule precluding homes with stone wall cladding from applying for grant support. Homeowners should engage with their contractor or one-stop shop to determine the appropriate type of energy upgrade for their home.

I understand that further guidelines are due to be published later this year with regard to more historic dwellings, which will help to inform and encourage homeowners with such buildings to be able to take energy efficiency measures.