Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
106. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to identify any and all grant supports for new businesses building new premises that wish to make their sites carbon neutral and avoid fossil fuel energy sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12212/24]
View answerMost of the building grants funded by my Department and administered by SEAI are for building retrofitting to a higher energy performance standard, rather than aimed at new buildings, which are already built to a high energy standard in accordance with building regulations, which the Department of Housing and Local Government lead on.
The EXEED Grant Scheme which is focussed on energy efficient design and the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat are also open to newly constructed buildings or greenfield sites, provided specific criteria are met. The only eligible costs for new buildings are incremental investments that go beyond the minimum required to meet building regulations or other minimum statutory requirements. Typically, in order to access a grant for a new building, the applicant will need to present a design that meets these regulatory requirements, and a design that goes beyond these requirements, including the incremental investment cost between the two.
Enterprise Ireland (EI), which is under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, has a suite of grant supports available to companies to help prepare for a low carbon, more resource efficient economy, no matter what stage of the journey they are at, from planning to implementation stage. Enterprise Ireland and IDA may support businesses under the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment’s Environmental Aid Scheme, which would include those seeking to make their existing or new greenfield sites energy efficient or carbon neutral and avoid fossil fuel energy sources.
