Affordable home retrofitting starts with easier grant system – Ó Muirí

The retrofitting grants application process needs to be streamlined for homeowners if residential retrofitting targets are to be met, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí said that while the grants that are available to homeowners to carry out works are to be welcomed, more needs to be done to make them accessible for potential applicants.

Deputy Ó Muirí said: “I acknowledge the progress made to encourage homeowners to improve their home’s energy rating, but the process to apply for grants can be convoluted and cumbersome. We need to remove these barriers to ensure home retrofitting is accessible, affordable and achievable.

“The government has committed to ramping up efforts to deliver more B2-equivalent home retrofits from next year up until 2030, with a focus on lower income households. It’s imperative then, that we look at how grants and finance available to homeowners are rolled out, so we can be sure the process is clear, straightforward and accessible to all, particularly for older people in our community who may be living in older houses which are cold and draughty.

“Faster approvals are needed. In order for that to happen, we need further growth in the network of SEAI-registered one-stop-shops, so that residents in all major towns have access to free, impartial advice on how best they can retrofit their homes.

“There needs to be greater flexibility for the scale of grants available, so that different amounts are available to cover a range of works, from just one part of the house to the whole building.

“Group retrofitting projects must be accommodated, so neighbours who choose to upgrade their homes together can do so with guided support.

“Retrofitting is an investment and I acknowledge the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme and tax incentives for landlords who wish to retrofit, but these enhanced supports are not widely known. More innovative finance solutions should also be explored which would allow homeowners to spread the cost of the investment in their home over a term that works for them.

“The investment that homeowners make will benefit all. It will benefit their pocket by reducing costs, it will improve the household’s comfort by delivering a warmer home and it will make Ireland resilient to climate change, recognising that achieving our climate goals is also essential to our future economic success.

“But we risk missing our ambitious targets if we don’t have a retrofitting programme that’s fit-for-purpose. It’s time to cut the red tape, waiting times and mixed messages and make retrofitting easier for everyone.”