I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 187, 188 and 189 together. In February this year, Government approved the establishment of the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) Scheme providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard. This Scheme introduces a new, highly customer centric, way to undertake home upgrades.
Following Government approval, the SEAI registration portal opened for companies to apply to be a One-Stop-Shop (OSS), building on the preparatory work already undertaken. SEAI are focused on engaging organisations capable of professionally managing all aspects of a One Stop Shop service. Therefore, the registration process, for this new service, must be robust. The new Scheme is also grounded in robust governance and oversight processes to ensure the OSSs are meeting the necessary customer and quality performance indicators.
There are 12 OSSs registered and SEAI is supporting another 10 organisations through the registration process. The SEAI expects to have 15 registered OSSs offering whole house retrofits by the end of this year. 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.
The cost of deep retrofit works to bring an individual home to a Building Energy Rating (BER) B2 is determined by a number of factors including the size and type of home as well as the starting condition of the home. The types of works applied for and the grant support available under the Scheme are informed by the Home Energy Assessment undertaken by the OSS.
Recent figures from the SEAI estimates that the cost of an OSS deep home retrofit ranges from €12,600 to €79,000 with a reported average total cost figure of €29,000 for completed works to date. While the average OSS home energy grant offer is €20,500. However, it is important to note that these averages may fluctuate depending on the applications submitted to the SEAI.
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/ or 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.
Most recent figures from SEAI show that 681 homes have been approved for OSS home energy upgrades. The breakdown of this figure on a county basis can be found in the below table. This points to a strong pipeline of works for the coming months under the scheme. To date, energy upgrade works have been completed and paid for 89 homes.
Applications approved for deep home retrofit SEAI grant-aid under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (One-Stop-Shops)
|
County
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|
|
County
|
|
|
Co. Carlow
|
35
|
|
Co. Longford
|
6
|
|
Co. Cavan
|
65
|
|
Co. Louth
|
7
|
|
Co. Clare
|
9
|
|
Co. Mayo
|
8
|
|
Co. Cork
|
82
|
|
Co. Meath
|
9
|
|
Co. Donegal
|
62
|
|
Co. Monaghan
|
15
|
|
Co. Dublin
|
118
|
|
Co. Offaly
|
3
|
|
Co. Galway
|
72
|
|
Co. Roscommon
|
5
|
|
Co. Kerry
|
20
|
|
Co. Sligo
|
59
|
|
Co. Kildare
|
11
|
|
Co. Tipperary
|
39
|
|
Co. Kilkenny
|
1
|
|
Co. Waterford
|
14
|
|
Co. Laois
|
3
|
|
Co. Westmeath
|
5
|
|
Co. Leitrim
|
0
|
|
Co. Wexford
|
7
|
|
Co. Limerick
|
18
|
|
Co. Wicklow
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
Total
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681
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