Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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720. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding persons who are seeking a grant towards cladding insulation for their house but may have received a very small grant up to ten years ago to pump walls for insulation and are now being refused the grant that could be approximately up to €6,000 due to the fact they may have received a grant of approximately €400 many years ago; if he will consider reviewing this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7388/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Better Energy Homes scheme aims to improve energy efficiency by providing grant support for energy efficiency upgrades to homeowners whose homes were built prior to 2006. It is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The aim of the scheme is to improve the energy efficiency of our built environment in a way which represents the best possible use of Exchequer funding. I have no function with regard to individual grant applications.

The rules applicable to the scheme indicate that a home cannot receive grant funding twice for the same energy efficiency measure. This is outlined in section 1.4 of the scheme application guide which states: “The measure being applied for must be for newly fitted materials/products and cannot have been incentivised previously in the particular home under any other grant programme.”And again, in point 10 of the Terms and Conditions:“The applicant vouches that measures applied for have not already been supported by other government schemes or by SEAI through Better Energy Homes or other schemes.”

In the case raised by the Deputy, it appears that the home has already received a grant for wall insulation and therefore is not eligible to receive another grant for any other form of wall insulation.

The rationale for this policy is that applying a second form of wall insulation to a home that has already received another form of wall insulation would result in a lesser amount of energy savings being delivered. This ensures that the funding available for energy efficiency is prioritised to where it has the most impact.

SEAI grant schemes are kept under ongoing review.