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Energy Conservation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021

Tuesday, 21 September 2021

Questions (110)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

110. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the schemes available to retrofit redbrick and stone-built houses; the insulation products approved by the National Standards Authority of Ireland for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44602/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties including redbrick and stone-built houses. These schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the grants are available subject to the scheme eligibility criteria being met. The National Home Retrofit (One-Stop-Shop Development) Scheme - facilitates home upgrades for private households, registered Housing Associations and Local Authorities.  More details of this scheme are available at: www.seai.ie/grants/national-home-retrofit/   The Communities Energy Grant Scheme makes grant funding available for community-based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area and is applicable to homes, community facilities, and businesses. More information is available at: www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants/   The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides grants to homeowners to improve energy efficiency in their homes on a staged basis.  Further information on this scheme is available at:www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants

Stone-built houses and many red brick houses (generally those constructed before 1940) would mostly be categorised as traditionally built buildings.  The materials used in traditional construction are often vapour permeable.  Energy efficiency upgrade solutions appropriate to such materials and methods are needed in these cases – e.g. a stone wall with lime based mortar will need a lime based plaster render to remain vapour permeable.  To support the proper upgrade of such buildings a new Guidance Document - “Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings” is being developed.  This project is being led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with input from my own Department and the SEAI.  Public consultation on the draft guidance was open until 17 September.  It is intended that the Guidance would be finalised and published by the end of this year.  

There are numerous NSAI Agrément certified insulation products/systems listed on the NSAI website (www.nsai.ie/certification/agrement-certification/search-agrements-certificates/) which are suitable to be installed on redbrick and stone built houses. It is recommended that these products/systems should be checked for their compatibility for a specific wall construction type. When considering externally applied thermal insulation products it is essential to engage a company that is listed under the NSAI ETICS scheme www.nsai.ie/certification/agrement-certification/agrement-registered-installers/search-registered-etics-installation-companies/

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