Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
147. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the rationale for not including standalone grants to homeowners to replace doors and windows in which a significant energy saving can be made by upgrading same; if he will consider including a grant such as this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10933/22]
View answer161. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider extending the 80% grant scheme in the National Retrofit Plan to include window and door replacement; if such a proposal was considered at any point for the new plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11104/22]
View answer172. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that windows and doors have been excluded from the new individual energy retrofit grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11415/22]
View answer177. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason windows and doors are the only energy upgrade items to be excluded from the individual energy retro fit scheme despite being included in the deep retrofit option with a one stop shop; if his attention has been drawn to the cancellation of orders for window and door retrofits that has been caused and that is likely to continue to occur (details supplied); and if he will include windows and doors for individual energy retrofits in the grant scheme. [11528/22]
View answer178. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will review the criteria for the new SEAI grant better energy warmer homes scheme to cover the replacement of old single glazed windows as a standalone item regardless of any previous SEAI grant drawn down on the dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11539/22]
View answer181. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that windows and doors have been excluded from the individual energy retrofit scheme but are included in the deep retrofit option with a one stop shop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11631/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147, 161, 172, 177, 178 and 181 together. The Government recently approved a package of significantly improved supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and lower emissions. The supports include a 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 previous level of 30-35%).
When a homeowner is completing a whole home energy upgrade, windows and doors form part of the overall fabric and are assessed through the home energy survey and assessment. The assessment may therefore recommend upgrading to ensure that home achieves a B2 rating or is suitable for installation of a heat pump, and in these situations that windows and doors are eligible for support through the One Stop Shop service.
Therefore, it is recommended that homeowners considering a window upgrade should consider a whole home energy upgrade to determine the best measures to achieve a warm and comfortable home. Similarly, homeowners can receive support for upgrading windows and doors as part of a Community Energy Grant project – where the upgrade also addresses the whole home. The provision of grants for windows and doors, as part of a whole home energy upgrade, represents a continuation of the approach adopted previously as opposed to any change in policy.
In the Warmer Homes Scheme, poorest performing homes are upgraded and in certain circumstances windows may be recommended following a survey and provided where suitable. They are not offered as an individual energy upgrade but as part of a suite of upgrades to provide a warm and comfortable home for the homeowners in an economic and efficient way.
