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Better Energy Homes Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018

Tuesday, 18 December 2018

Questions (519)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

519. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to include boiler replacements under the SEAI standard grants and the SEAI warmer home schemes. [53106/18]

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Written answers

The Better Energy Homes (BEH) scheme is funded by my Department and operated by the SEAI. In January 2018 the grant which was available for boiler upgrades under this scheme was removed. Prior to this a grant of €100 was available for the upgrade of a fossil fuel boiler when carried out along with the installation of heating controls, for which a grant of €600 was available. Heating controls are an excellent way to control a household's energy usage and improve comfort. The grant for heating controls has now been increased to €700 and no payment is now made for boiler upgrades. At the same time grant levels for external wall insulation and the introduction of a new grant for the installation of a heat pump, which is a renewable heating system were announced. Taken together, all of this is a concrete demonstration of the Government's commitment to support householders to move away from fossil fuel technologies. There are currently no plans to reintroduce a grant for boiler replacements under this scheme.

The Warmer Homes scheme is also funded by my Department and operated by SEAI. This scheme is a free energy upgrade scheme for low income homeowners. The scheme is predominantly a fabric first scheme, meaning that it aims to improve the thermal performance of a dwelling by upgrading the insulation. What each home receives in their upgrade package is determined by an SEAI survey of the home. In 2018 deeper measures were brought into the scheme, such as external and internal wall insulation. In very limited circumstances, such as where a home has no heating system in place, it is also now possible to have one installed. Approximately 150 homes of 2,500 surveyed since June 2018 were recommended to receive a heating system installed free of charge under this scheme.

Further information is available on the SEAI website, www.seai.ie or by contacting SEAI on info@seai.ie or 1850 376 666.

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