Darragh O’Brien has said his department is considering introducing new SEAI grants in this year’s budget.
The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment made the remark after it was revealed that the body recorded a €120 million underspend last year, despite the State’s ambitious retrofitting targets.
In a bid to cut carbon emissions and improve the quality of the nation’s housing stock, the Government has set a target of 500,000 homes retrofitted to at least a Building Energy Rating (BER) standard by 2030.
However thus far, only 257,000 households have availed of SEAI grants.
On The Claire Byrne Show, Minister O’Brien said the grant system has been changed to make it “more accessible” for homeowners.
“I broke the grants down,” he explained.
“We've brought in windows and doors grants, which weren't there before - we've had about 30,000 applications to them already just since March of this year where you can do that.
“You can do your your attic insulation wall cavity like a retrofit passport.
“So, we've already seen the impact of that by increased spend and investment in this area up about 22%.”
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When asked if he intended to increase the amount SEAI grants are worth in the budget, Minister O’Brien said he had no plan to do so.
However, he added that he is “looking in the round” at how to cut energy use through the retrofitting of Irish homes.
“I'm targeting about 70,000 households this year,” the Fianna Fáil TD said.
“And we will look at additional maybe new grants in the budget as well for for other areas also, because we have the resources to do it.
“What I do is also listen to feedback; so, are there other things that we can do on top of the grants that are there in other areas that will also help?”
Budget 2027 will be held on 6th October.
Main image: A split of Darragh O'Brien and a man fitting a solar panel. Picture by: Kacey O'Riordan/Newstalk/Alamy.com/Pexels.com
