Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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209. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will review an application by a person (details supplied) for a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant. [9215/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. As Minister, I have no function in relation to individual applications under the scheme.

There are a number of home energy improvements offered as part of the scheme. The upgrades recommended for a particular property depend on many factors, including age, size, type and the condition of the property. For each eligible home, the SEAI’s technical surveyor determines which upgrades can be installed and funded.

Until 31 December 2024, a new gas or oil heating system could be recommended for installation and funded under the scheme. These heating systems were installed in order to comply with building regulation requirements where a major renovation is taking place under the scheme, and to ensure that homeowners were not left without heating in their homes.

A major renovation is triggered when more than 25% of the area of the walls is being externally and/or internally insulated. In these instances, the existing heating system must be appraised for replacement. Replacement will be recommended where:

• There is no heating system in place, and the home is undergoing a major renovation
• Where the existing heating system is obsolete and the home is undergoing a major renovation

Under the revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Member States cannot provide financial incentives for the installation of stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels from 1 January 2025. Therefore, since then, the SEAI cannot recommend new standalone oil or gas boilers as an upgrade measure when surveying homes under this scheme.

Instead, where a heating system upgrade is required as part of a major renovation, the SEAI will assess the suitability of the home for a heat pump, or other renewable heating technologies, which are compliant with the EPBD. Therefore, where a homeowner does not wish to have their heating system replaced with an EPBD-compliant system as part of a major renovation, the SEAI cannot carry out the other insulation works.

Homes which were surveyed and recommended for boiler upgrades prior to 1 January this year are not affected by this change and planned works already communicated to homeowners, including boiler upgrades, will continue. Homes that had applied prior to 1 January, but which were not surveyed prior to 1 January, are affected by this change and the approach outlined above will apply.

Heat pumps are extremely efficient and very economical to run with no requirement for additional heating sources, meaning there are no additional bills for oil, gas or solid fuel. In 2024, the average cost of upgrading homes which received a heat pump under the scheme was €38,790. This is a significant investment in the home that will make it warmer, more comfortable and more affordable to run.