My 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 more than two-fold increase in applications in the first 5-months of this year compared to the same period in 2025.
In the context of meeting the increased appetite of homeowners who want to upgrade their homes, the SEAI is currently carrying out a detailed review of their customer journeys to simplify, streamline and standardise processes, and are currently developing a customer portal to support user-friendly, simplified and digitalised customer interactions with the SEAI.
Specifically in relation to windows and doors grants, to qualify for the grants, the post-works BER certificate must show the building fabric meeting a specified minimum performance standard. Many homes will already meet this standard. If the home does not meet the standard and needs to upgrade either attic or wall insulation, then grants are available from the SEAI for these measures. More details can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/individual-grants/windows-and-doors.
With regard to homeowner engagement, the SEAI advise it is proactively filtering windows and doors applications and communicating with homeowners early in the process, including sending out a leaflet on the post BER and fabric requirements with letters of offer. In addition, a new online eligibility checker is currently being developed by the SEAI, aimed at providing greater clarity to homeowners ahead of grant offer stage.
The SEAI grant rates and eligibility criteria are kept under review taking account of evolving science, innovation, evolving technology and other relevant factors, making appropriate changes as necessary.
