Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
551. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the better energy homes grant scheme; his plans for the scheme post 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42977/14]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland administers the Better Energy Homes scheme on my behalf. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER). Since its commencement in March 2009 the scheme has delivered energy efficiency measures to almost 161,000 homes around the country. It is anticipated that €10m will be drawn down by the scheme in 2014. Whilst there has been a decline in grant applications for the Better Energy Homes scheme this has been largely offset by a surge in applications under the Better Energy Areas and Communities Schemes which provide grant funding for locally and community-based projects, including homes. The Government has committed a total of €57 million in Exchequer capital funding for the Better Energy Programme this year.
My Department is currently examining a range of options with regard to the future to the Better Energy Homes scheme. The options under active consideration include simplifying procedures to make the scheme more accessible to householders and engaging with local actors including energy suppliers, credit unions and local authorities to promote and initiate action at a community level.
In addition, a project team is examining the scope for introducing a Better Energy Financing (BEF) model in Ireland. This will be centred on introducing consumers to a journey of successive home improvements leading from shallow to deeper retrofit in a manner and over a timeframe that is suited to individual circumstances. This approach will take account of economic realities, while also providing assurance that even the smallest job is done to specification and with the full protections of the BEF scheme’s governance arrangements.
The BEF project team is currently engaged in reviewing the design and development of the necessary technical, administrative and financial pillars that are required to underpin the scheme, as well as carrying out a detailed analysis of similar schemes in other jurisdictions. Under the umbrella of the Better Energy programme a number of BEF pilot projects will be undertaken next year alongside the current grant based supports which will be continued in 2015.
