Dara Calleary
Question:322. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he plans to introduce Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant assistance for homes built after 2006. [8981/16]
View answerWednesday, 4 May 2016
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Since 2009 the Better Energy programme, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department, has provided over €400 million for energy efficiency upgrades in almost 300,000 homes, supporting an average of 2,300 jobs per annum in the construction sector. The aim of the programme is to improve the energy efficiency of homes built prior to the introduction of more energy efficient building standards.
Dwellings constructed on or after 1 July 2006 are subject to Statutory Instrument No. 873 of 2005, Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations and subsequent revisions. These regulations, transposing the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), require all new homes to meet certain energy efficiency standards. These standards include limiting the CO2 emissions associated with energy use, limiting heat loss through the fabric of the building, controlling the output of the space heating, hot water systems and limiting the heat loss from pipes, ducts and vessels used for the transport or storage of heated water or air. Therefore, homes constructed in accordance with this legislation do not require the type of upgrades supported by the Better Energy Programme. Consequently, there are no plans to include homes built after 2006 in the Better Energy Programme.