Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
163. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost for shallow works, deep works and deep works with heating upgrades under the warmer homes scheme. [12755/21]
View answer164. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the criteria for deciding whether to complete shallow, deep works or deep works with heating upgrade under the warmer homes scheme. [12756/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades leaving them better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level.
Funding for the SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased to over €109 million in 2021. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget will support people vulnerable to energy poverty. This will mean that more households can receive free energy efficiency upgrades, making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, in line with the Programme for Government.
In 2020, the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided to households under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme was €14,819. A further breakdown of the average costs under the scheme is set out in the table below.
|
Category |
Description of works |
Excluding VAT |
Including VAT |
|
Shallow |
Includes attic and/or cavity wall insulation and windows occasionally |
€4,225 |
€4,795 |
|
Deep |
Includes external wall insulation (and any other insulation), and windows occasionally but no heating upgrades |
€16,135 |
€18,313 |
|
Deep Heat |
Includes heating upgrades and any insulation (including external wall insulation), and windows occasionally |
€24,431 |
€24,729 |
|
Weighted |
|
€13,057 |
€14,819 |
A range of home energy improvements can be funded under this scheme. The upgrades that are recommended for any given property depend on many factors including age, size, type and condition of the property. For each eligible home, SEAI’s managing agent carries out a survey of the home which determines the upgrades that can be installed and funded. The home is subsequently allocated to a contractor which carries out a further assessment of the property to confirm the initial recommendation. A programme of work is then agreed between the contractor and SEAI. Decisions in relation to the recommended upgrades made by both SEAI’s managing agent and contractors are informed by a technical operations manual.
The broad conditions for recommending works are set out in the table below.
|
Energy upgrade |
Conditions for recommendation |
|
Attic insulation |
· Pitched roofs · Where appropriate ventilation is possible |
|
Cavity wall insulation |
· Walls consisting of an inner and an outer leaf separated by a cavity · Wall by wall basis · Where appropriate ventilation is possible |
|
External wall insulation |
· Solid or hollow block walls · Properties built after 1940 · Wall by wall basis · Where appropriate ventilation is possible |
|
Internal wall insulation |
· Solid or hollow block walls where external wall insulation not suitable · Properties built after 1940 · Wall by wall basis · Where appropriate ventilation is possible |
|
Replacement windows |
· Single glazed windows · Window by window basis · Where walls are also being insulated · Replacement doors are not included |
|
Heating upgrade |
· Where no central heating or highly inefficient heating is present · Where walls and/or attic are insulated or can be insulated |
|
Heating controls |
· As part of a heating upgrade |
|
Ventilation |
· Where walls or attic are being insulated · In adherence with current building regulations |
|
Draught proofing |
· Secondary measure, eg where wall and/or attic also being insulated · As required |
|
Lagging jacket |
· Secondary measure, eg where wall and/or attic also being insulated · As required |
|
CFLs |
· Secondary measure, eg where wall and/or attic also being insulated · As required |
