Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding grant eligibility for energy efficiency and retrofitting works on private residential housing stock; if it will be a requirement to use contractors registered with the SEAI to secure this grant aid; the assistance that will be available for other verifiable works carried out that add to energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9667/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government has approved a package of improved supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions.

These new measures include:

- The establishment of the new demand-led National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering 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%).

- Establishment of a network of registered One Stop Shops to offer a new end-to-end project management service. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant processes; helping with access to finance; engaging the contractors to deliver the work and then quality-assuring that work.

It is expected that the One Stop Shops will be distributed across Ireland, with a considerable number capable of offering services nationwide, due to the network of contractors they are working with throughout the country. Other One Stop Shops will work within geographic regions. This will ensure that every home can benefit from the One Stop Shop service on offer.

The SEAI registration portal for companies to apply to be a One-Stop-Shop is now open. It is expected that the first One-Stop-Shops will be registered in the coming weeks. Homeowners can then make applications for upgrades.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has a number of schemes in place to support homeowners to upgrade their properties including the fully funded Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme for those most at risk of energy poverty and two significant part-funded schemes, the Better Energy Homes Scheme and this recently announced National Home Energy Upgrade (Retrofit) Scheme. The increased grant levels have been standardised across all Schemes as appropriate.

Applicants to the Better Energy Homes Scheme must use SEAI Registered Contractors who are active on the registered Contractor List at the time of works.  The Contractor List is available at www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants or on request from 01 808 2100. The Contractor must be registered for the particular measure that they are undertaking for the homeowner.  The National Home Energy Upgrade (Retrofit) Scheme is managed by the SEAI registered one stop shops.

Further details with respect to each of the schemes are available at www.seai.ie.