Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 February 2022
57. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the procedure for companies and businesses to sign up to the one-stop-shop in order to register with the retrofitting scheme. [8585/22]
View answer61. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if registered building contractors can carry out work directly under the national retrofitting scheme; if not, if the scheme is designed to be accessed exclusively through the one stop shop system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8639/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 61 together.
The Government has approved a package of supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.
These new measures include:
- The establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
- Establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a new end-to-end project management service. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant processes; helping with access to finance; engaging the contractors to deliver the work and then quality-assuring that work.
- A special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use and cost as part of the government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices.
In order to be eligible for grant funding under the new National Home Energy Upgrade scheme, homeowners will be required to apply through a registered one stop shop for their energy upgrade.
Companies wishing to register as a one stop shop must apply to the SEAI. Details on how to become a registered One Stop Shop can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/register-with-seai/one-stop-shop/ or for further information, please email onestopshop@seai.ie or call 01 808 2162
Registered One Stop Shops will be required to ensure that their contractors are properly competent and/or registered with SEAI as required to carry out the grant-aided measures under the relevant grant schemes, and in compliance with all SEAI requirements for such contractors.
Individual contractors can register with the SEAI for works on other energy upgrade schemes such as Better Energy Homes. More details can be found on the SEAI website at: www.seai.ie/register-with-seai/
