Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
73. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the protections that are in place for the use of public money as part of Ireland's ambitious retrofitting programme overseen by the SEAI (details supplied). [46505/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a range of home energy upgrade schemes on behalf of my Department. The day-to-day management of the grant schemes including the quality assurance of individual registered contractors are operational matters for the SEAI.
Contractors operating under any relevant SEAI scheme must carry out the works in line with the SEAI’s Contractor Code of Practice and Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications as well as best practice and technical guidance documents including:
• NSAI S.R. 54:2014 - Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings;
• Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents;
• The System Supplier/Product Manufacturer Guidelines;
• Irish Agrément Certificates; and
• Irish, British or European Standards Guides.
Contractors are also required to demonstrate their tax compliance and insurance cover and cooperate with a scheme's Quality Assurance (QA) programme. The QA programme has been designed by the SEAI to maintain high standards of contractor workmanship; build consumer confidence; monitor health and safety; and ensure proper governance of the spending of public money.
Further protections in place include the requirement that a Declaration of Works be signed by both the homeowner and the contractor certifying completion of works as well as a post-works Building Energy Ratings (BER) carried out by an independent BER assessor.
In addition, regular inspections of works, which can take place at prepayment or post-payment stage, are undertaken by the SEAI on a risk-based approach in accordance with international best practice. The SEAI deals with all complaints received and this also informs the risk-based approach to inspections. When sub-standard works are found, contractors are required to rectify the works to the satisfaction of the inspector, at no cost to the homeowner.
The SEAI operate under a Customer Charter and a complaints and appeals procedure is in place. If after following this procedure an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome, they can ask the Office of the Ombudsman for an independent review of the complaint. Further details are available here: www.seai.ie/customer-charter.
