Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2024
55. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the rationale for the exclusion by the one-stop shop from grants of replacement of windows and doors on a step-by-step approach. [38937/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
Grant support for window and door replacement is available under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme as well as under the Community Energy Grant scheme as part of a whole house upgrade solution. When a homeowner is completing a whole home energy upgrade under these Schemes, the overall fabric of the property is assessed through the home energy survey and assessment. The assessment may recommend particular measures, including windows and doors, to ensure that home achieves a B2 rating or is suitable for installation of a heat pump.
In the Warmer Homes Scheme, poorest performing homes are upgraded and in certain circumstances window upgrades may be recommended following a survey and provided where suitable. Eligibility for the Warmer Homes Scheme requires applicants to be in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection payments.
SEAI schemes do not fund windows & doors upgrades as a single measure. The vast majority of homes in Ireland that have inefficient windows also have walls and/or roofs with low levels of insulation. Upgrading the wall and/or roof insulation would typically be of a greater benefit to a homeowner in terms of energy saving than upgrading windows and so the grants for individual measures are directed towards higher priority measures that are of greater benefit.
My officials engage with their counterparts in the SEAI on an ongoing basis in relation to the operation of the schemes and as part of this will continue to ensure that grant rates and measures available under the various grant schemes are kept under review taking account of evolving science, innovation, technology and other relevant factors.
