Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Garvey for raising this issue. Older homes, built until around the 1940s, usually fall into the category of being traditionally built. These homes were generally built with solid walls, often with a lime or earthen based render finish and include stone-built dwellings. The main difference between traditional and modern construction is the way moisture is managed. Traditional materials and construction techniques allow for the natural transfer of heat and moisture. Solid masonry walls rely on their thickness to cope with atmospheric moisture. This means that standard retrofit solutions are often not suitable for use with traditional buildings as they can lead to adverse and unintended consequences for the building fabric and the health or well-being of its occupants. Energy efficiency upgrades appropriate to such materials and methods are needed in these cases. For instance, a stone or brick wall with lime-based mortar will need a lime-based plaster render to remain vapour permeable.

The SEAI advises that it does not exclude pre-1940 homes from applying to any of its grant-supported schemes. However, all SEAl approaches are determined by building regulations, incorporating National Standards Authority of Ireland SR 54:2014 code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings. This means that wall insulation is not recommended under any of its residential energy efficiency schemes on dwellings built before 1940 constructed in stone, single-leaf masonry or composite wall construction. That said, the SEAI will assess applicant homes under the various residential energy efficiency schemes for suitable measures other than wall insulation.

To support and promote our built heritage and to discharge certain statutory responsibilities, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage operates the national built heritage service, NBHS. The NBHS works with owners, building professionals, local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that our built heritage is valued, protected and carefully adapted, where necessary, so that its character and special interest can be enjoyed by future generations. In respect of improving the BER of historic homes, the NBHS’s role is primarily advisory. Last year, the NBHS published technical guidance for specifiers and installers, entitled, "Improving energy efficiency in traditional buildings". This guidance was developed in close collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Office of Public Works, the Heritage Council and the SEAI. This document provides detailed and comprehensive guidance on the proper methods for improving the energy efficiency of solid masonry wall buildings. This covers the vast majority of buildings constructed before 1919 and includes the category of older buildings of high heritage value, referred to by Senator Garvey. The NBHS continues to work with the relevant professional bodies to disseminate the guidance.

In addition to SEAI schemes funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the built heritage investment scheme, funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and administered through the local authorities, can be used to fund energy efficiency improvements in protected structures and buildings such as those in architectural conservation areas, provided that those improvements accord with good conservation practice. The specific measures that can be funded include draught-proofing of openings, attic insulation, repair and upgrading of historic shutters, installation of secondary glazing and insulation of suspended timber floors. The scheme has a budget of €4.5 million for 2024.

Looking forward, SEAI and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications are examining options to pilot supports for traditional buildings through the existing one-stop-shop service. This will be progressed in the coming months.