Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
417. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to provide the necessary supports to help homeowners undertake home retrofits in order to prevent application abandonment for energy efficient grant schemes and to increase the uptake of home retrofits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15288/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of energy efficiency schemes for homeowners that are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The SEAI works on an ongoing basis to identify opportunities to reduce application abandonment and increase the number of successful applications made to the schemes they administer. This focus includes significant insights from SEAI’s Behavioural Economics Unit. For example, in October of 2018, SEAI reviewed the online application wizard through which members of the public can apply for SEAI grant funding. The review identified a number of steps which could be removed in order to reduce application abandonment. Following the review, the problematic steps were removed from the application wizard resulting in a more streamlined process for users. This example of an innovative approach is in addition to the comprehensive information and guidance available from the SEAI through their website and information line.
More generally, I will shortly be publishing a new All of Government Climate Plan which will include a number of actions aimed at improving supports for homeowners and increasing the number of retrofits.
