Written answers

Tuesday, 21 September 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Energy Conservation

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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86. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the schemes that are available for homeowners to upgrade or retrofit their homes if they are working and paying PRSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44825/21]

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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87. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the schemes that are available for homeowners to upgrade or retrofit their homes if they are working and paying PRSI and the homes were built after 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44826/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.

My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. 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 to heat and light.

Building Regulations have been progressively amended and strengthened over the years and new buildings must now meet very high energy performance standards. Homes constructed since 2006 are generally more energy efficient than those built prior to that period due to energy performance requirements of the 2003 Building Regulations. For that reason, grants are not available for insulation or heating controls for homes built and occupied after 2006. However, grant funding for renewable energy measures (heat pumps, solar thermal and solar PV) are available for homes built before 2011. Full details of all schemes operated by the SEAI and the application processes are available at www.seai.ie, info@seai.ie or Tel. 01-808 2004.

It is important to note that the grants available through SEAI aim to maximise emissions 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 and the best value for money for the Exchequer.

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