Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
51. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a maximum amount a person or household is allowed claim in various grants from the SEAI in one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5354/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a range of SEAI administered grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. The SEAI retrofit schemes offer partial grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency improvements for people at risk of energy poverty. Guidelines for each scheme is available on the SEAI website - www.seai.ie. The Warmer Homes Scheme and the Warmth and Wellbeing pilot scheme provide a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to lower income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The types of energy efficiency upgrade recommended for a home is determined by an SEAI survey that considers factors including the age, size, type and condition of the property. There is no maximum value associated with these upgrades but the measures available and the conditions for recommendation are published in the scheme guidelines. Risk and complexity are taken into account when assessing each home and recommending particular interventions.
The Better Energy Homes scheme aims to improve energy efficiency by providing grant support for energy efficiency upgrades to homeowners. Fixed amounts are available for a range of measures. The maximum that a home can receive in grant funding through this scheme is currently €12,450.
Under the Solar PV scheme a homeowner can receive a maximum of €3,000 towards the cost of Solar PV and battery storage.
The Community Energy Grant scheme funds community based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area - homes, including those at risk of energy poverty, community facilities and businesses. The maximum grant per house depends on the home type as follows:
|
Home type |
Percentage |
|
Private energy poor |
Up to 80% |
|
Private non-energy poor |
Up to 35% |
|
Local authority homes |
Up to 35% |
|
Private rented homes |
Up to 35% |
|
Housing Association homes |
Up to 50% |
The National Retrofit (One Stop Shop Development) scheme is designed to encourage the development of one-stop-shops for retrofit and to engage groups of private households, registered housing associations/Approved Housing Bodies and Local Authorities that wish to participate in delivering energy efficiency upgrades, specifically in domestic buildings. The scheme will facilitate larger, more efficient aggregated projects and will bring benefits for homeowners and the supply chain. The maximum grant per house depends on the home type as follows:
|
Home type |
Percentage |
|
Private |
Up to 35% |
|
Local authority homes |
Up to 35% |
|
Housing Association homes |
Up to 50% |
|
Private non energy poor (Midlands strand) |
Up to 35% |
|
Private energy poor (Midlands strand) |
Up to 80% |
