Written answers

Thursday, 16 June 2022

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Energy Conservation

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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162. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a home that previously had some home energy efficiency work carried out is disqualified in cases in which a new home owner seeks to improve the energy efficiency of the home from applying for a new SEAI grant; if the SEAI has specific rules or regulations relating to same, such as the time that has lapsed since the previous grant, the BER rating that was achieved through the previous work, the type of work previously undertaken and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31697/22]

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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163. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if all homes that have had some energy efficiency work carried out under SEAI grants are excluded from any further support from the SEAI; if the statistics are available on the work that has been carried out to date that demonstrate the energy efficiencies that have been achieved in terms of reduced CO2 emissions and improved BER ratings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31698/22]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.

Earlier this year, the Government approved a package of supports 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 and lower emissions.

The supports included a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which offers 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%). Under the SEAI home energy upgrade schemes, the general principle applies whereby grant funding can only be issued once per measure per property.

However, under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, a homeowner may be permitted to avail of a second grant for a measure where it is recommended in the One Stop Shop Home Energy Assessment to achieve the B2 and heat pump target. In cases where the OSS determines through the Home Energy Assessment and Heat Loss Indicator assessment that a second wall insulation is required to meet the heat pump requirement, then grant support for a second measure is permitted as follows:

- Internal Wall Insulation is eligible where cavity has previously been funded.

- External wall insulation is eligible where either cavity or internal wall insulation has been funded.

In addition, as part of the package of supports approved by Government, reforms have also been made to the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme whereby applications may now be accepted from qualifying homeowners who previously received supports under the Scheme, but who could still benefit from deeper upgrade measures (revisits). This means that homeowners of properties built and occupied before January 1993 and have a pre-works BER of E, F or G will not be precluded from applying for a second time for qualifying works not previously carried out on their properties.

With regard to the specific information sought by the Deputy, the SEAI advise that under the residential and community energy efficiency schemes there was a carbon emissions saving of 38.8 ktCO2 in 2021, of this 21.6 ktCO2 relates to residential buildings. The most recent data available from SEAI shows carbon savings of 8.11 ktCO2 across the residential energy efficiency schemes to date this year.

Officials of my Department will provide the Deputy with a separate table setting out data on the improved BER ratings per SEAI Scheme for 2021 and 2022 year-to-date.

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