Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the SEAI will have final figures for the number of and amount of funding for heating systems upgrades installed, broken down by heat source, including from fossil fuel such as oil and gas, and electric heat pump and so on for the warmer homes scheme and warmth and wellbeing scheme in 2022, in tabular form. [12250/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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. The Warmth and Wellbeing pilot scheme (now closed to new applications) aims to objectively measure and validate the health and wellbeing impacts of improving the living conditions of vulnerable people living in energy poverty with chronic respiratory conditions. Both schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Heating systems upgrades are recommended under the schemes in cases where:

- There is no heating system in place, and the home is receiving an attic and/or wall measure,

- Where the existing heating system is obsolete and the home is receiving an attic and/or wall measure,

- Where statutory ‘Major Renovations’ obligations apply: A Major Renovation is triggered when more than 25% of the area of the walls is being externally and/or internally insulated, then the existing heating system must be appraised for replacement. This is legally required under the Building Regulations, Part L 2019.

It should be noted that these are the only schemes administered by SEAI where installation of a new gas or oil heating system can be funded.

In order to move the scheme away from the installation of gas or oil heating systems where these Building Regulations are triggered, and to provide more extensive upgrades with decarbonised heating systems under the scheme, the National Retrofit Plan included a commitment to carry out a pilot to upgrade homes under the scheme to a B2 standard and install heat pumps. This pilot commenced in Q1 2022 and is gathering evidence to inform the appropriate process and approach to increase the number of B2 upgrades and heat pumps installations delivered under this scheme.

The table below sets out the different heating system upgrades provided to homes at risk of energy poverty who were in need of a heating system replacement in 2022:

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment whether a person with stone walls can avail of a retrofitting grant. [12253/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan and the National Retrofit Plan identify the important contribution the retrofit of buildings needs to make in delivering on our national and international climate goals. My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Grants for protected stone-build structures are available in certain circumstances subject to the scheme eligibility criteria and terms and conditions being met. Detailed information on the grants and eligibility criteria is available at www.seai.ie.

Older stone-build buildings (generally those built up until around the 1940s) usually fall into the category of traditionally built buildings. Such stone-built structures were designed to be vapour permeable. It is important that the materials and techniques used in energy efficiency upgrades of such buildings are suitable for the buildings in question including for use with vapour permeable construction where applicable. For example, a stonewall with lime-based mortar will need a lime-based plaster render to remain vapour permeable. Otherwise vapour becomes trapped leading to problems which can cause harm to the building and its occupants.

SEAI support the insulation of buildings using materials and products which are appropriate and have been determined fit for use in the Irish climate by National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). SEAI has no role in the certification of products used in Ireland but is aware that very old homes which are constructed using stone and lime-based mortar are more complicated to insulate for the reasons outlined above.

To support the proper upgrade of traditional buildings a new technical Guidance Document - "Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings" is being developed led by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. My Department and the SEAI are participating in the steering group overseeing the project. The objective is to finalise the guidance having regard to submissions received in the pubic consultation with a view to publishing it this year. Once available this guidance will be an important resource to support contractors in the appropriate energy efficiency upgrade and renovation of older stone-build buildings while ensuring compliance with the appropriate building regulations.