The administration and management of applications for retrofit projects under Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. However, SEAI has confirmed that it is currently actively engaged with the homeowner in question. SEAI has also confirmed that the company in question is not a registered One Stop Shop and operated under the Deep Retrofit Scheme, which closed to new applications in 2019.
It is critically important that works supported by SEAI schemes are completed in line with the respective scheme terms and conditions including 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. Accordingly, a contractor or builder must meet the following criteria to be listed on SEAI's website:
• Contractors must complete a SEAI Contractor Registration form and provide all necessary documents confirming competency for measures being registered for. Details can be found here: www.seai.ie/sites/default/files/publications/Domestic-Technical-Standards-and-Specifications.pdf
• Contractors must complete a Declaration of Insurance form and provide a valid Tax Clearance Certificate
• Contractors must attend a mandatory Onboarding Training session held by SEAI. These sessions are held once a month and a Contractors activation on the SEAI website is dependent on attendance.
• In order to remain SEAI registered, Contractors must remain insured at all times, tax compliant and carry out works to the standards set out in SEAI’s Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications (DTSS) document as well as NSAI’s S.R. 54:2014 – Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings.
SEAI has a number of controls in place, including a targeted, risk-based inspection approach to oversee the quality management of registered contractors, and this can include various sanctions up to and including de-registration. Furthermore, in 2023 SEAI set up a new quality team looking at how quality can be further optimised. SEAI also continuously reviews standards, specifications and registration requirements and engages with Educational Training Boards (ETB) regarding relevant courses and course content.
