Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019
1532. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the uptake of SEAI grants in County Mayo since the grant was introduced to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36334/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1533. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of SEAI grant applications denied in County Mayo since the grant was introduced to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36335/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1532 and 1533 together.
This year the Government through the SEAI will invest €147.6 million in sustainable energy and energy efficiency, including free upgrades for low income households, up from €120 million in 2018. In 2018, 21,350 homeowners, 2,000 motorists, and 310 businesses received grant assistance from SEAI schemes.
The Better Energy Homes grants administered by the SEAI are funded by my Department. Grants are available to homeowners for insulation, heating controls, heat pumps, solar PV and solar thermal hot water heating systems.
The majority of the home energy grants are available to homeowners whose properties were built before 2006. Since the introduction of these grants nearly 400,000 homes across the country have received an energy efficiency upgrade, representing nearly one home in four across the country
The following document sets out the number of applications completed, and number of cancelled applications in Co Mayo for each measure under the Better Energy Homes Scheme since 2012. Applications can be cancelled for various reasons such as ineligibility for the scheme or change of mind by the homeowner.
A range of other home energy schemes are funded by my Department and administered by the SEAI. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty who meet the defined eligibility criteria.
The following table sets out the number of homes in Co. Mayo that received energy efficiency upgrades under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme between 2016 and 2019 (Year to Date).
|
Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 YTD |
|
No. of Homes Completed – Co. Mayo |
290 |
455 |
216 |
130 |
The Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme was launched in 2017 as a time bound pilot to investigate the challenges and opportunities of deep retrofit in Ireland. The pilot was intended to run for 3 years and the scheme closed for applications on 19 July in line with the published scheme Application Guidelines. The Pilot provides 50% funding for upgrades to homes to an A BER rating with 95% funding provided for low-income households.
The following table sets out the number of homes upgraded to an A BER rating in Co. Mayo in 2018. Details for 2019 are not currently available as the projects are ongoing and not yet completed.
|
Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme |
2018 |
|
No. of Homes Completed - Co. Mayo |
64 |
In addition, the Better Energy Community (BEC) Scheme also funds community based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area – homes, community facilities and businesses. The attached document contains details of the Better Energy Community projects funded in Co. Mayo in 2017 and 2018.
