Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of the issue that houses that have outer leaf repairs carried out under the Mica redress scheme may not qualify for SEAI home energy efficiency schemes grants; if it is the case they are prohibited from applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11940/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Following the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 to significantly enhance the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June, 2022.

The Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022. The Act provides “for the payment of grants for the remediation of certain dwellings damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction”.

Homeowners who have works funded under the Defective Concrete Blocks scheme are not prohibited from applying for energy upgrade grants administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. In fact, SEAI is working with my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency and local authorities to ensure that homeowners can access both grants appropriately in a streamlined manner.

In this regard, SEAI grants provide support to bring homes to the fabric performance of the 2007 building regulations. Dwellings that have outer leaf repairs funded under the DCB Scheme will already have had wall insulation covered as part of those works. Where the dwelling requires further grant funding for wall insulation to meet the 2007 standard, households may apply for such grant aid from SEAI.

SEAI grants are also available for roof insulation, the installation of heat pumps, PV and Solar Thermal systems and EV chargers.