Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
97. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps that are taken to ensure that while quality and safety standards are met, excessive paperwork and inspections does not deter contractors from signing up to join the home energy grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27698/26]
View answerMy Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Following Government approval in January, I published a new National Residential Retrofit Plan (NRRP) with an enhanced set of measures to increase delivery of home energy upgrades.
The new measures, which include higher attic and cavity wall insulation grants as well as new windows and doors grants, are generating increased interest amongst homeowners in home energy upgrades, with the SEAI reporting a near two-fold increase in applications in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2025.
On the supply side, the retrofit sector is mobilising and responding to the growing interest in energy upgrades underpinned by SEAI grant support. This is reflected in the number of manufacturers and distributors of external windows and doors having reached 470 to date on the SEAI register. This can be accessed on their website at: www.seai.ie/GrantProcess/ContractorSearch.aspx
In the context of not deterring customers, SEAI is currently carrying out a detailed review of their customer journeys to simplify, streamline and standardise processes, including contractor registration, submission of post-works information and inspection processes. They are currently developing a customer portal to support user-friendly, simplified and digitalised customer interactions with SEAI.
The SEAI undertake active contractor engagement to significantly increase the number, capacity, and quality of contractors to meet the increasing appetite of homeowners who want to upgrade their homes. There are also significant resources made available to SEAI registered contractors, including marketing support and technical guidance to support delivery of high-quality installation and customer service.
There is ongoing engagement with industry to understand how to make it easier to register and do business through the schemes. For example, the SEAI carried out a survey of contractors in 2025 to understand the experience of contractors working in the home renovation space, and the barriers (whether experienced or perceived) preventing contractors from moving into the retrofit business, from registering with the SEAI, or from growing their existing retrofitting business. These insights feed into continuous improvement of their processes.
The SEAI also operate a quality assurance programme to ensure the maintenance of high standards of contractor workmanship, build consumer confidence, monitor health and safety, and ensure proper governance of the spending of public money.
The Government has also taken tangible steps to expand the retrofit workforce, including the establishment of 6 Retrofit Centres of Excellence.
The budget of up to €3.7 billion to the end of the decade, supplemented by allocations from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), will enable the supply chains and contractor capacity continue to strengthen, gain in confidence, grow, take on staff, and further invest and innovate.
