Written answers

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Energy Efficiency

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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990. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grants in place for protected houses that are private dwellings for persons who wish to carry out energy efficiency improvements in view of the fact that protected houses are not eligible to apply under SEAI. [34103/17]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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A protected structure is defined by Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as a building that a planning authority considers to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical point of view. Each planning authority maintains a list of such structures on a Record of Protected Structures. Any buildings so listed are not required to comply with Part L (conservation of fuel and energy) of the Building Regulations and do not require a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate for rental or sales purposes. However, that should not prevent owners of protected structures from undertaking energy efficiency improvements.  

Homeowners must consult with the relevant Local Authority prior to commencement of energy efficiency works if the property is a protected structure as any works which would materially affect the character of protected structures require prior planning permission. However, once this condition is met, owners of a home that is a protected structure are eligible for grant support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland who operate the Better Energy Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. This scheme provides fixed grants towards a range of energy efficiency measures including roof insulation, wall insulation, heating controls, boiler upgrades, solar heating systems and the cost of Building Energy Rating assessments.

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