Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
165. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of smart heating control grants awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the geographic spread per county; the average amount per grant; how much funding has been drawn down for smart heater control grants in the same period, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56128/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe installation of heating controls is one of the energy efficiency measures supported under the SEAI administered grant schemes. Heating controls are an excellent way to control a household's energy usage and improve comfort. A fixed grant of €700 is available towards the cost of installing heating controls.
The majority of grants for heating controls are paid out under the Better Energy Homes (BEH) scheme which provides individual grants for a range of measures, allowing homeowners to take a step-by-step approach to their retrofit. Figures from SEAI show, that under the BEH scheme:
• to date in 2023 (end November) 1,037 grants for heating controls
• in 2022, 1,602 grants for heating controls
• In 2021, 2,789 grants for heating controls
• In 2020, 7,173 grants for heating controls
Grant support for heating controls is also available under all of the part-funded residential retrofit schemes, including the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme and the Community Energy Grant Scheme. Heating controls can also be installed as part of a wider retrofit under the fully funded Warmer Homes scheme. Data on the number of heating control installations under these Schemes is not routinely collated by SEAI and so are not included in the above figures.
Officials from my Department have asked SEAI to reply directly to the Deputy with the additional information sought for the period 2020-2023 regarding the number of heating controls installed under the other SEAI Residential and Community Energy Efficiency Schemes; the funding drawn down for heating control installations across all Schemes; and geographic spread of heating controls installations, in so far as it is available, as soon as possible.
