Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
179. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if clarity will be provided in relation to the one-stop shop retrofitting grant; if the grant will be awarded if the final result of the retrofitting work does not meet the minimum BER B2 rating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10554/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
The scheme introduces a new way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work.
Homes, built and occupied pre-2011, and owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme. Eligibility for grant support under the scheme, requires homes to reach a post works BER rating of B2 or better and deliver a minimum primary energy uplift of at least 100 kWh/m2/year.
However, in addition to the establishment of the new scheme, Government has also made clear that it is important that households that want or need to carry out the upgrade over time, should be supported at the enhanced grant levels. For that reason, many of the new grant rates are also now available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme allowing homeowners to take a step-by-step approach or self-manage the project.
Overall, the fully funded upgrades under the Warmer Homes Scheme, the Local Authority Retrofit Programme and the foregoing measures provide an unprecedented opportunity for people all over Ireland to upgrade to a warmer, healthier and more comfortable home, with lower energy bills.
