Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Alex White TD and Brian Motherway, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland with homeowners Helen and Des Fox from Ballinteer who recently had their house insulated.
Increase in Grants for Energy Efficiency
Minister for Energy, Alex White TD has announced a boost in the level of grants available to householders who want to undertake energy efficiency improvements. The cash value of every grant available to householders under the Better Energy Homes Scheme has been increased by between 25/50%. In addition, a bonus payment has been introduced which will see householders receive bonus payments if they complete three or more energy efficiency improvements.
The new grant levels are effective immediately and will apply to everyone who has applied for a grant that has not yet been paid. The previous minimum grant threshold of €400 has been abolished and a bonus payment of €300 for householders who undertake three efficiency measures has been introduced, with an additional bonus payment of €100 available to householders who undertake four measures. The bonus payments are available to new applicants and to householders who have already availed of the scheme who wish to undertake further upgrades.
Under the revised scheme a family in a semi-detached house could benefit from a grant payment of up to €4700 for external wall insulation, a boiler and heating control upgrade, and cavity and attic insulation. A couple in an apartment could receive €3400 towards internal wall insulation, a boiler and heating control upgrade and the installation of solar thermal heating.
Specifically in relation to heating, the grant for a new gas/oil boiler installation with heating controls has been increased to €700 while that for a heating controls upgrade alone is now €600. The grant towards a solar thermal heating installation has been increased to €1200.