Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2025
441. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider increasing the threshold of the housing aid for older people grant to cover the cost of installation of non-fossil fuel heat sources, further to the changes in the criteria of the grant which prohibit funding of installation fossil fuel boilers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5922/25]
View answer465. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any EU directive on oil boilers/boiler replacement is affecting those availing of housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6221/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 465 together.
My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority.
My Department carried out a review of the Housing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme including a review of the Means Test, and the Report on the Review is available on my Department’s website at the following link: gov.ie - Report on the Review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability (www.gov.ie).
The Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 612 of 2024), which came into effect on 1 December 2024, provide the legal basis for the introduction of the recommendations set out in the review. The key changes include an increase in the grant limits of over 30% and the income thresholds by 25% whilst also revising the means test. The legislation also adjusts the burden sharing for local authorities by reducing the local authority funding contribution to 15% (from the previous 20%).
The Housing Aid for Older People Grant scheme provides grants of up to €10,700 (increased from €8,000 following the introduction of the revised Scheme) to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements works undertaken. Qualifying works include structural repairs or improvements, upgrading unsafe electrical wiring, drylining, repair or replacement of windows and doors and the repair or provision of central heating (where no central heating exists or the existing system is broken or beyond repair).
The European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 749/2024), signed by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications on 19 December 2024, transposes Article 17(15) of Directive 2024/1275 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 24 April 2024 on the energy performance of buildings (recast) into Irish law. The Regulations provide that from the 1 January 2025 public bodies shall not provide any financial incentives for the installation of stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels other than those already approved under EU funds.
As a result, grants under the Housing Aid for Older People Grant scheme can no longer be provided for the installation of new stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels. However, any applications for grant funding in respect of the purchase of a new fossil fuel boiler (oil or gas), which were received and approved by a local authority prior to 1 January 2025 can still be paid to applicants after 1 January 2025. The grant scheme continues to be available for applications approved after 1 January 2025 in respect of costs relating to the repair of an existing fossil fuel boiler by a qualified contractor (oil or gas) or the purchase and installation of a second hand fossil fuel boiler by a qualified contractor (oil or gas).
Grants under the scheme may also continue to be paid after 1 January 2025 in respect of the repair or replacement of all other parts of a central heating system such as new radiators, oil tanks or pipework, regardless of connection to an existing fossil fuel boiler (oil or gas). Grants continue to be paid in respect of non fossil fuel heating such electric or biomass heating solutions e.g. wall mounted electric heaters or wood pellet stoves etc., where either are deemed to be a suitable option in line with applicant’s circumstances. The detailed administration of the schemes is the responsibility of the local authorities, therefore the qualifying works is a matter for consideration and decision on a case-by-case basis by the local authority within the scope of the grant scheme.
Grant funding for insulation works and associated heating systems are appropriate to the schemes available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Further information in relation to these schemes can be found on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie/homeenergyupgrades.
