Under the “fully funded home energy upgrade service” – certain homeowners in Ireland can get free insulation and other energy-saving work done on their houses for FREE.
You may be eligible to apply if you are a homeowner and your home was built before 2006 and you are getting one or more of the following benefits:
a) Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme
** (More about Qualifying for Fuel Allowance here)
b) Working FamilyPayment
c) Jobseeker’s Allowance (for over 6 months) with at least 1 child under 7
d) One-Parent Family Payment
e) Domiciliary Care Allowance
f) Carers Allowance (and you live with the person you are caring for)
g) Disability Allowance for over 6 months and have a child under 7 years.
Priority is given to homes that were built and occupied before 1993 and have a BER of E, F or G.
The energy-saving measures currently available for free under this scheme are:
- Free Attic insulation
- Free Cavity wall insulation
- Free external wall insulation
- Free Draught proofing
- Free Hot Water tank Lagging jackets
- Free Low energy light bulbs.
- New heating systems and windows may also be recommended – see below
A new heating system be recommended in cases where:
- There is no heating system in place, and the home is receiving an attic and/or wall measure,
- Where the existing heating system is obsolete and the home is receiving an attic and/or wall measure,
- Where statutory ‘Major Renovations’ obligations apply:
- A Major Renovation is triggered when more than 25% of the area of the walls is being externally and/or internally insulated, then the existing heating system must be appraised for replacement. This is legally required under the Building Regulations, Part L 2019.
Over 570 new gas or oil boilers were fitted under this scheme in the first half of 2023 .
Window replacement was introduced as a measure under the Warmer Homes Scheme in 2018. Window replacement can be recommended in limited circumstances, subject to a technical survey by SEAI. This recommendation is typically where only single-glazed windows exist and where wall insulation is also being installed.
The government has said that anyone who previously received attic or loft insulation under the scheme, but did not have their cavity walls treated, can be revisited to now receive cavity wall insulation.
Landlords can’t get funding under this scheme – but if they have tenants that are in energy poverty (or at risk of it) landlords can apply for other grants under the Better Energy Scheme
The services are provided by a panel of non-profit local community-based organisations and a panel of private contractors. Both panels are appointed by SEAI. The initial process begins with a surveyor calling to your home to confirm that you are eligible and assess the amount of work needed. The work is then done by an installer if budget is available. Inspections are carried out on a sample of homes after works have been completed to ensure that standards are maintained.
The average cost of upgrades was €24,000 in 2023 . At the end of October 2023, over 4,500 homes had been upgraded under this scheme and the government say they are on target to upgrade 6,000 homes under the scheme by the end of the year.
The average waiting time from application to completion in Q3 2023 was just under 20 months.
More details and application forms here.
Form available online here :
Postal Address:
Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
PO BOX 119
Cahirciveen
Co. Kerry
Or e-mail warmerhomes@seai.ie
If you don’t qualify for this scheme – you could qualify for other grants towards the cost of home insulation. Take a look at this grant scheme for heat pumps and energy upgrades