Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2023
57. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will engage with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in order to broaden the criteria on houses that can qualify for grant aid to fit heat pumps (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5555/23]
View answerIn February 2022, Government announced a range of new measures to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades. The new measures included the provision of increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard (up from 30%-35% grants in 2021). The grant rates for heat pumps increased significantly from €3,500 to €6,500 and the eligible year of construction was broadened out from pre 2011 to houses built and occupied before 2021.
It is important to note that the grants available through SEAI aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were selected as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer. Grants are not targeted at meeting compliance requirements when building a new home.
Recent data from the Central Statistics Office report for Domestic Building Energy Ratings Quarter 4 2022 shows that electricity as the main space heating fuel continues to increase. It shows that 86% of new homes built between 2020-2022 and with a BER Audit reporting have electricity as the main space heating fuel, this is up from 49% for homes built between 2015-2019 with a BER audit.
www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-dber/domesticbuildingenergyratingsquarter42022/
While there are no current plans to amend the current rules around the year of construction for dwellings in order to qualify for grant support for a heat pump, SEAI has commenced a research study to test the efficacy of installing heat pumps in homes with a Heat Loss Indicator of between >2.3 and 3.0 W/K m2. Pending the findings of the study, this could allow heat pumps to be installed in many more homes which are currently ineligible.
