Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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201. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of SEAI EXCEED certified grant expressions of interest that were received since 1 January 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43608/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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202. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current number of SEAI EXCEED certified grant stage 1 applications to date; the number of EXCEED stage 1 successful letters that have been issued; the number of EXCEED stage 1 grant draw-downs that have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43611/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current number of SEAI EXCEED certified grant stage 2 applications to date; the number of EXCEED stage 2 successful letters that have been issued; the number of EXCEED stage 2 grant draw-downs that have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43612/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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204. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of successful grant draw-downs of SEAI EXCEED certified grant stage 2 expressions of interest that were received since January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43613/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 202, 203 and 204 together.

EXEED Certified is a standard for excellence in energy efficient design, which helps organisations take a more strategic approach to investment projects by considering asset energy performance from the design stage. The associated EXEED Certified grant scheme was re-launched in January 2021 by the SEAI. It supports organisations with the costs of embedding energy efficient design in their assets, to reduce lifecycle impact with lower energy use and carbon emissions.

I am advised by the SEAI that there have been 82 EXEED Stage 1 grant applications received since the programme re-opened in January 2021. These are applications for grant support for professional fees related to conducting a suite of pre-investment studies to identify the opportunities for embedding energy efficient design in an asset. I understand that 63 Stage 1 letters of offer have been issued this year. Of these, over 30 studies have now been completed and one grant draw down has been completed. Grant payments will be processed for the remaining projects in the coming weeks.

　I am also advised that there have been 49 EXEED Stage 2 grant applications received since January 2021. These are applications for grant support for capital investment projects which will commence after a grant offer is made. Grant offers have been made for 7 projects so far this year. There have been no grant drawdowns so far for these projects. Grant drawdowns will only take place following completion of the works.

An expression of interest is not an application to the programme but a request for information and is not specific to Stage 1 or Stage 2. SEAI advise me there have been a total of 237 expressions of interest in the EXEED Certified grant scheme received since it re-opened in January 2021.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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205. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are grant schemes to support persons to improve the energy efficiency of their properties as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43615/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 450,000 homeowners have upgraded their homes with support from these schemes, representing nearly one home in four across the country. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light.

Support to upgrade dormer bungalow homes is available under SEAI grant schemes. However, SEAI have advised that the technical requirements to address these homes can be challenging due to the construction style and the follow on insulation and ventilation requirements. Further information on SEAI grants is available at www.seai.ie or by contacting SEAI directly at 1850 927 000.