Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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214. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to adapting SEAI grants for buildings developed after 2006 and which do not meet current insulation requirements as prescribed in the 2003 building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34937/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since 2000, over 440,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country. Building Regulations have been progressively strengthened and new buildings must now meet very high energy performance standards. Homes constructed since 2006 are generally more energy efficient than those built before due to energy performance requirements of the 2003 Building Regulations. For this reason, there is no grant incentive for residential insulation for houses built and occupied after 2006. However, grant funding for renewable energy measures under the Better Energy Homes scheme and Solar PV scheme are available to homes built before 2011.

There are currently no plans to change the date of eligibility for SEAI insulation grant assistance for homes built and occupied after 2006.

It is important to note that the grants available through SEAI aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were chosen as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners at the best value for money for the Exchequer.