Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
141. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports available for apartment complexes in terms of energy-efficiency upgrades, or access to the installation of solar panels and any other energy efficiency supports. [25764/23]
View answer142. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can clarify whether the one stop shop system of retrofitting supports is applicable to apartment complexes or individual apartment owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25765/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
In February 2022, Government approved a package of supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s National Retrofit Plan. These measures are 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 emissions.
Included in these measures is the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering unprecedented grant levels towards the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump. The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme introduces a new way to undertake home energy upgrades with SEAI registered one stop shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners.
The new higher grant rates available for relevant measures under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme are also available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme.
Homes, built and occupied pre-2011 (pre-2021 for Solar PV scheme) and owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the schemes. Individual apartments can receive support across the range of schemes. It is also worth noting that a key feature of the new one stop shop model and the Community Energy Grant Scheme is the bringing together of groups of homes for aggregated projects thereby creating efficiencies in delivery and developing new innovation in processes and technologies.
The Microgeneration Support Scheme domestic solar PV grant scheme commenced on the 16th February 2022. Domestic applicants can apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for a grant towards the cost of installing solar PV equipment, up to a maximum of €2,400.
Eligibility for this scheme when living in an apartment block is dependent on the particular circumstances in the apartment block, including ownership and access to a suitable location to mount solar PV panels. An apartment owner or a group of apartment owners may be able to apply for this scheme.
The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is also currently working on the regulatory framework to facilitate renewable energy communities following a recent public consultation .
Further information on SEAI energy upgrade supports is available from www.seai.ie.
