Significant increase in funding support will see tens of thousands of homes benefit from retrofitting – Feighan
Local TD and Minister of State Frank Feighan has said that the boost in home energy upgrade supports agreed by Cabinet today will see tens of thousands of homes benefit from the scheme.
“Retrofitting homes across the island is key to reducing emissions produced in Irish homes. This scheme will also reduce the cost of home heating bills, as retrofitted houses, retain heat more efficiently.
“A barrier to the progress of the retrofitting scheme has been the cost, that’s why today the cabinet have taken decisive action to assist homes avail of the scheme, announcing the Home Energy Upgrade (Retrofit) Scheme.
“Today’s announcement will see the Government provide funding to cover up to half the cost, approximately €25,000, of a deep-retrofit.
Minister Feighan went on to say: “There will also be significant support offered to homes that choose to carry out smaller-scale home upgrades, this will include attic and cavity wall insulations, and Government will offer up to 80% of these costs. This would see the cost-burden on households drop significantly, amounting to a few hundred euros in some cases.”
I am glad to see this announcement as part of the Government’s response to the current exceptionally high energy prices. For instance, in the case of a semi-detached home, the attic insulation grant will increase from €400 to €1,300 and the cavity wall insulation grant will increase from €400 to €1,200. These are highly cost-effective upgrade measures that can be deployed rapidly and at scale this year. It is expected that these works will pay back in 1-2 years in most houses.
“The introduction of a One Stop Shop will allow homeowners to access a start to finish support system, meaning more people can engage with these supports in a simplified manner.”
“This advice is readily available now in some counties in this region including Leitrim Warmer Homes based in Drumshanbo.
“Moreover, this plan will allow hundreds of low-income households benefit of free energy upgrades every month, ensuring that we are providing upgrade options for every home in Ireland.”
“Some key examples have been given like take a typical house built in 1989, the costs of the energy upgrades including, windows & doors, insulation, heat pump and mechanical ventilation comes to €49,500, that homeowner will receive a grant of €24,900 with and monthly projected energy cost saving of €100 or €1,200 per year.
“If we are to achieve our goals of seeing 500,000 homes retrofitted and 400,000 heat pumps installed by 2030, we need to encourage take-up. That’s why today’s announcement is so important,” Minister Feighan concluded.