Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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55. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason that a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who applied for the better energy warmer homes schemes and waited over two years for the survey or to call out has now been told that they are not entitled to the scheme; if there are plans to amend the application guide and form to clearly state that homes with 20% insulation will not be assisted through the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8576/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) manage a number of residential and community energy upgrade grant support schemes on behalf of my Department. These schemes have terms and conditions in place to ensure the transparent administration of public monies. Achieving this requires that the processes and systems are clear and efficient and operate in a manner which is fair to all applicants.

The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low income households who are most at risk of energy poverty.  A range of home energy improvements can be funded under this scheme. The upgrades that are recommended for any given property depend on many factors including age, size, type and condition of the property. Each eligible home is assessed on a case-by-case basis by SEAI’s managing agent. This involves a survey of the home which determines the upgrades that can be installed and funded. The home is subsequently allocated to a contractor who carries out a further assessment of the property to confirm the initial recommendation. A programme of work is then agreed between the contractor and SEAI. Decisions in relation to the recommended upgrades made by both SEAI’s managing agent and contractors are informed by a technical operations manual.

Applications under SEAI schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI.  As Minister, I have no function with regard to individual grant applications. SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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56. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if wood pellet stoves will be included in the new retrofitting grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8584/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to reach a legally binding target of net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and a cut of 51% by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels).

The Climate Action Plan set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector from 7 Mt CO2 eq. in 2018 to between 3.5-4.5 Mt CO2 eq. in 2030.

The Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal or carbon equivalent and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030.  This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide.

Recognising that the achievement of these targets will require a step-change in the pace and scale of delivery Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, the Government has approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The key measures include:

- A new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard (up from 30%-35% grants currently).

- Significantly increasing the number of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty, up to 400 per month from an average of 177 per month in 2021.

- A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.

To support the overarching policy objectives, the grant rates to homeowners are focused towards those measures which will be most effective in reducing energy use and reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, grant supports for wood pellet stoves will not be available under the SEAI residential energy upgrade schemes.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the procedure for companies and businesses to sign up to the one-stop-shop in order to register with the retrofitting scheme. [8585/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 61 together.

The Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.

These new measures include:

- The establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).

- Establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a new end-to-end project management service. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant processes; helping with access to finance; engaging the contractors to deliver the work and then quality-assuring that work.

-  A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use and cost as part of the government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.

In order to be eligible for grant funding under the new National Home Energy Upgrade scheme, homeowners will be required to apply through a registered one stop shop for their energy upgrade.

Companies wishing to register as a one stop shop must apply to the SEAI. Details on how to become a registered One Stop Shop can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/register-with-seai/one-stop-shop/ or for further information, please email onestopshop@seai.ie or call 01 808 2162

Registered One Stop Shops will be required to ensure that their contractors are properly competent and/or registered with SEAI as required to carry out the grant-aided measures under the relevant grant schemes, and in compliance with all SEAI requirements for such contractors.

Individual contractors can register with the SEAI for works on other energy upgrade schemes such as Better Energy Homes. More details can be found on the SEAI website at:www.seai.ie/register-with-seai/

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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58. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if clarification will be provided on the newly announced SEAI grants for energy efficiency and retrofitting of homes. [8634/22]