The administration and management of applications under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the agency. As Minister I have no function in relation to individual grant applications.
Government has in place a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake energy upgrades for warmer, healthier homes with lower energy bills. The grants available, and their respective eligibility criteria, aim to maximise emissions reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer. The grant schemes provided by the SEAI are reviewed on a regular basis.
The National Residential Retrofit Plan, as well as new and enhanced measures announced in January, have made retrofitting supports more accessible, e.g. homeowners can access windows and doors grants as individual measures and increased grant rates for insulation and heat pumps.
Under the SEAI home energy upgrade schemes, the general principle applies whereby grant funding can only be issued once per measure per property.
However, under new rules introduced in January specifically for wall insulation, if a home previously received a grant for wall insulation the homeowner may now apply for a second wall insulation measure. This option is designed to help homeowners upgrade from cavity wall or internal wall insulation to achieve a higher level of energy efficiency and make their home heat pump ready.
The following rules apply:
• if you previously received a grant for cavity wall insulation, you can apply for an internal wall insulation grant or an external wall insulation grant;
• if you previously received a grant for internal wall insulation, you can apply for external wall insulation only; and
• if you previously received a grant for external wall insulation, you cannot apply for a second wall insulation measure.
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce was formed to identify, assess and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households. The Taskforce is now leading the response to the energy shock, and the immediate associated energy affordability challenge. This work includes examining how to support increased uptake of home energy efficiency upgrades and continued development of the SEAI retrofit schemes in line with commitments in the Programme for Government.
The SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members, and it is open to the Deputy to forward any specifics regarding the matters raised to that address: oireachtas@seai.ie.
