Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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166. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the low-interest loans to enable homes to retrofit will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55663/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is working with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland and the European Investment Bank to develop a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme. The scheme is part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and will be co-funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility and Exchequer funding. It will also be backed by a counter guarantee provided by the EIB. The loan guarantee will provide risk protection to retail credit institutions participating in the scheme. This will enable credit institutions to offer loans with reduced interest rates to private homeowners and non-corporate landlords and make comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable to consumers. This approach will signal to the banking sector, new sustainable business opportunities associated with retrofit and the transition to a low carbon economy as well as increasing the volume of retrofit activity within the State. It is anticipated that the Scheme will provide a lending portfolio of up to €500 million.

Significant progress has been made to date with the "Invitation for Pre-Qualification Stage" to identify interested 'On-Lenders' concluded and the "Invitation for Award Stage" underway. The latter is an important milestone in the development of the scheme as it will determine how much of the guaranteed loan portfolio will be allocated to each 'On-Lender'. It will also set out the interest rate pricing approach under the scheme. It is expected that the loans under the guarantee will be available early next year.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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167. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an outline of the regulations and inspections that are in place to ensure that retrofitting and energy efficiency works undertaken by private contractors are of a high standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55664/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the retrofit industry transforms to accommodate much higher levels of output in line with our national targets, quality must be maintained at a high level to ensure value for money for the taxpayers and to sustain consumer confidence and demand. Contractors operating under any scheme supported by an SEAI grant must carry out the works in line with the SEAI’s Contractor Code of Practice and Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications as well as best practice and technical guidance documents including:

- NSAI S.R. 54:2014 Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings

- Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents

- The System Supplier/Product Manufacturer Guidelines

- NSAI Agrément certificates

- Irish, British or European Standards Guides

A Declaration of Works must be signed by both the homeowner and the contractor certifying completion of works. Post-works Building Energy Ratings are also carried out by independent BER assessors. In addition, contractors are required to demonstrate their tax compliance and insurance cover and cooperate with the scheme's Quality Assurance programme. The Quality Assurance programme has been designed by SEAI to maintain high standards of contractor workmanship; build consumer confidence; monitor health and safety; and ensure proper governance of the spending of public money. Regular inspections of works are undertaken on a risk-based approach in accordance with international best practice. When sub-standard works are found, contractors are required to rectify the works to the satisfaction of the inspector, at no cost to the homeowner.

The SEAI carries out verification inspections on grant aided works on a sample basis to ensure grants are paid in accordance with SEAI’s terms and conditions. Inspections may take the form of site inspections where an Inspector verifies the works completed on site, or a desktop audit where documentary and photographic evidence is reviewed to substantiate the works that have been completed.

As part of SEAI’s Code of Practice all contractors are required to resolve complaints. If a customer is not satisfied with the works completed, contractors must make every reasonable effort to resolve the complaint to the customer’s and SEAI’s satisfaction.

The SEAI deals with all complaints received appropriately and this informs the risk-based approach to inspections. The case by case review of any complaints may inform desk based investigations and/or site visits where deemed appropriate. SEAI operate under a Customer Charter and a complaints and appeals procedure is in place. If after following this procedure an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome, they can ask the Office of the Ombudsman for an independent review of the complaint. Further details are available here: www.seai.ie/customer-charter/