Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
118. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of contractors in respect of the midlands retrofit one-stop shop currently employed in counties Offaly and Laois; and the number of deep retrofits completed in these counties to date. [36197/22]
View answerEarlier this year, the Government approved a package of supports 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 and lower emissions. The supports included a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which offers 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%).
The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme introduces a new, highly customer centric, way to undertake home upgrades. SEAI registered One-Stop-Shops provide an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors; and quality assurance.
As part of these new supports, new increased grant rates are available under the Better Energy Homes scheme and Community Energy Grant scheme, thereby allowing homeowners to choose the best home upgrade option to suit their particular needs. The Better Energy Homes Scheme allows homeowners to take a step-by-step approach or self-manage the project. The Community Energy Grant Scheme is also available for homeowners wishing to undertake their energy upgrades as part of a community project.
The SEAI advise that eight One Stop Shops have now been registered and SEAI is actively working with applicant organisations to support them through this registration process. One-Stop-Shops will be distributed across Ireland, with an increased number offering services nationwide through their network of contractors throughout the country, including counties Laois and Offaly. Other One-Stop-Shops will work within geographic regions.
The SEAI advise that under the Community Energy Grant Scheme, the Project Co-ordinators work nationally and across multiple counties expanding their overall reach. There are currently 752 contractors serving the Leinster area under the Better Energy Home Scheme; 32 contractors are located in Laois and 29 in Offaly.
Data provided by the SEAI on the number of homes upgraded to a post works BER B2 or better under each scheme in Counties Laois and Offaly can be found detailed in the below table. Homes for 2022 under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme and Community Energy Grant Scheme are not expected to be completed until later this year. The Warmer Homes Scheme is a fully funded scheme for suitable homes of eligible applicants. Upgrade works recommended are based on a standard suite of measures offered through the scheme.
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 to date |
||||
|
Laois |
Offaly |
Laois |
Offaly |
Laois |
Offaly |
Laois |
Offaly |
|
|
Better Energy Communities |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
One Stop Shop (incl. National Home Retrofit Development Call |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
6 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Better Energy Homes |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
16 |
9 |
|
Warmer Homes Scheme |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
