Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
1014. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a matter in relation to SEAI grants for insulation (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24452/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1024. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the insulation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25037/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1014 and 1024 together.
The Better Energy Programme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The aim of the programme is to improve the energy efficiency of our built environment, in a way which represents the best possible use of Exchequer funding. This involves making difficult decisions and targeting supports like limiting eligible homes to those built before 2006 and limiting each home to one grant per type of energy efficiency upgrade.
Therefore, as new homes are already required to meet specific energy performance standards and to incorporate renewables, grant support is currently focussed on improving the conditions of existing dwellings, and on developing renewables in this area. Grant funding further works in homes that already possess this level of energy efficiency would not represent a cost-effective use of Exchequer funds. For information, grant funding for renewable measures under the programme is available to homes built before 2011.
Neither my Department nor the SEAI is responsible for control of building regulations. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government leads on the Building Control Regulations which require owners, builders and registered construction professionals to demonstrate through the Statutory Register of Building Control Activity that the works or building concerned have been designed and constructed in compliance with Building Regulations.
It is current Government policy that under the Better Energy Homes scheme a home cannot receive grant funding twice for the same energy efficiency measure. In the case cited, this means that since the home in question has already received a grant for cavity wall insulation it is not eligible to receive another grant for any other form of wall insulation. The rationale for this policy is that applying a second version of wall insulation to a home that has already received one form of wall insulation would result in a lesser amount of energy savings being delivered and since the funds that are available for energy efficiency are limited, I must prioritise their use where they will have the most impact.
I understand the Deputy's point that in order to encourage the move away from fossil fuels that additional wall insulation may become necessary for some properties that previously received grant funding under the scheme. This is why homes that have previously received grant aid, but can now meet the criteria for the new Deep Retrofit Pilot scheme (which is supporting householders to make the next step and move off fossil fuels and get their home up to an A3 Building Energy Rating (BER)), will be eligible for further funding. Further details are available on the SEAI website: www.seai.ie/grants/home-grants/deep-retrofit-programme
