Written answers

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Environmental Schemes

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason that there are far more grants available to the SEAI one stop shop scheme (details supplied). [20339/22]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In line with commitments in the National Retrofit Plan, the Government recently launched a package of significantly improved 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 and lower emissions. The supports include a 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 previous level of 30-35%). SEAI registered One-Stop-Shops will provide an end-to-end service for homeowners through this scheme. When a homeowner is completing a whole home energy upgrade, the overall fabric of the home is assessed through the home energy survey and assessment. The assessment may recommend upgrading certain measures to ensure that home achieves a B2 rating or is suitable for installation of a heat pump. It is in these situations that certain measures, such as floor insulation, which are not available as an individual grant measure, are eligible for support through the One-Stop-Shop service. The provision of these additional measures as part of a whole home energy upgrade, represents a continuation of the approach that was previously in place under schemes like the Community Energy Grants scheme as opposed to any change in policy.

The Government has made it clear that it is important that households that want or need to carry out the upgrade over time instead of all at once, should also be supported. For that reason, the new enhanced grant rates have also been applied to the individual measure grants allowing homeowners to take a step-by-step approach or self-manage the project. A special grant covering 80% of the cost of attic and cavity wall insulation has also been made available as part of the Government’s response to increases in the cost of living.

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 selected as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer.

The impact of the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme will be monitored on an ongoing basis by the SEAI and the Department. A comprehensive evaluation measuring effectiveness and value will also take place in 2023 and will inform future developments.

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