The Communities Energy Grant (CEG) Scheme which is funded by the Department and operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), makes grant funding available for community-based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area.
The objective of the CEG Scheme is to support cross-sectoral, partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.
The requirement for a small number of homes to be incorporated in all CEG applications is included in the context of the ambitious home retrofit targets set out in the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan. These targets include the retrofit of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years. Homes are a core element of every community so it is entirely reasonable that they be included in applications for grant support under the CEG scheme. Indeed, the scheme requires a minimum of just one home to be included in applications for it to be deemed in line with the relevant criteria.
The 2021 budget for the scheme is €30 million, a €10 million increase on the allocation in 2020. This is in the context of an overall budget of €221.5 million for SEAI residential and community grant schemes this year.
It is noteworthy that demand for the scheme under the existing guidelines has been very strong - applications with a value in excess of €30 million have been received by SEAI under the most recent call for projects. This indicates that the requirement for homes to be included in projects has not impacted negatively on uptake.
I am advised that the SEAI is willing to work with organisations to help enable the inclusion of homes in applications.
