Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
170. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications for retrofits that have been received by each one-stop-shop, as opposed to expressions of interest to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41777/22]
View answer175. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of retrofits completed by each one-stop-shop to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41790/22]
View answer176. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of home energy assessments carried out by each one-stop-shop to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41791/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 175 and 176 together.
In February this year, the Government approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades thereby achieving lower energy bills and lower emissions.
The measures announced include the establishment of the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) which offers unprecedented grant levels, increased from around 30% to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade (with a heat pump), with One-Stop-Shops (OSSs) providing a start-to-finish service for homeowners. This includes surveying; designing the upgrades; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors; managing the grant process and quality assurance.
The SEAI advise that ten OSSs have now been registered, and the SEAI is actively working with applicant organisations to support them through this registration process.
Applications for grant funding under the NHEUS take the form of a two-step process where the OSS apply on behalf of the homeowner for (1) a Home Energy Assessment grant and (2) a Home Energy Upgrade works grant for eligible measures required to bring the home to a B2 BER or better and achieve a primary energy uplift of 100 kWh/m²/yr.
The OSS is required to secure the consent of the homeowner before applying for a HEA or NHEUS grant. The HEA and the associated grant being separate to the home energy upgrade supports, means that the OSS will enter into separate contracts with homeowners at the two points of the process. These contracts will respectively provide that the OSS (i) complete the Home Energy Assessment within 12 months from the date the HEA grant offer issues and (ii) complete all home energy upgrade works associated with a property within 12 months of date of the grant offer.
SEAI has indicated that the OSSs have received over 18,000 initial expressions of interest by phone and online, showing the interest in the new offering. The SEAI advise that figures to the end of June show that 441 applications for home energy assessments and 210 applications for works have been submitted under the NHEUS with applications expected to increase in the coming months.
To date, this year no full home energy upgrades have been completed under the NHEUS. However, the OSSs have completed 279 homes to the end of June this year for contracts under the One Stop Shop Development Call 2021. When added to the 805 completed in 2021 and the remaining homes due to be completed shortly, it is expected that over 1,100 homes will be delivered under the One Stop Shop Development Call 2021 pilot.
