![Inis Mor Inis mor](https://energyefficiency.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/insimore-2171550_1280.jpg)
Energy Efficiency Grants for the Islands
![Briain-Kelly](https://energyefficiency.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Briain-Kelly.jpg)
Written by
Briain Kelly
Last edited
08/09/2024
The SEAI provides grant funding to help homeowners in Ireland with the cost of making their houses and apartments more energy efficient.
Living on one of Ireland’s many offshore islands can make a lot of things more expensive, not the least of which is getting contractors out to perform construction and renovation works.
Fortunately, in recognition of this, the SEAI allows island homeowners to get grant funding at levels up to 50% higher than what is available for mainland properties.
James Dorrian, Managing Director of Energy Efficiency Ireland said, “Grants for home improvements aimed such as solar panels or insulation are extremely important if we want to make Ireland’s housing more energy efficient.”
“Cost is the biggest obstacle to having people take the plunge in carrying out retrofit works on their homes, so it is welcome that SEAI grants recognise that living on the islands can make everything more expensive.”
The additional funding is available for homeowners applying for Individual Energy Upgrades. This scheme allows people to apply for grants for singular upgrades, such as solar panels or wall insulation.
The Individual Energy Upgrades can be used for a wide range of measures which will make your home more energy efficient.
These include upgrades to the fabric of the building, with insulation in the walls or attic, or renewable energy systems such as solar panels or heat pumps.
The only home improvement grants for which island residents will not receive additional funding are for cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, and heating controls.
The islands where residents qualify for additional grant funding are:
![Internal-Wall-Insulation Internal Wall Insulation](https://energyefficiency.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Internal-Wall-Insulation-1.jpg)
“Houses on the islands are more likely to be older and in greater need of retrofitting to bring them up to modern standards,” James Dorrian said.
“It would be a shame to lose the unique character of island communities by having them fall to vacancy or dereliction. Or equally to have all of these older buildings replaced.”
Through the Individual Energy Upgrades Scheme, homeowners are also responsible for the entire grant application and installation process.
This differs from other avenues such as the One Stop Shop and Fully Funded Energy Upgrades schemes, where the process is handled by the selected contractor or SEAI.
Renovating Vacant Properties
Island communities also benefit from higher funding levels under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use.
This scheme provides funding to refurbish properties that have been vacant for two years or more in order to use them as housing.
Ordinarily, the grant scheme offers €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 to refurbish a derelict property.
However, people living on the islands can receive up to €84,000 to renovate a derelict building or up to €60,000 for a vacant property.
The scheme does not cover any works to make a house more energy efficient which is already covered by the SEAI, but it does encompass many structural works which aren’t.
Type of work | Maximum amount |
---|---|
Demolition and site clearance works including removing hazardous materials | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
Substructure works on foundations, rising walls, floor slabs, damp-proofing and underpinning | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
Superstructure works done on walls, chimneys, upper floors, stairs, roof structure and structural timbers | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
External doors, windows and windowsills | €21,000 |
Internal doors, frames, architraves, ironmongery | €7,000 |
Skirtings | €3,500 |
Fascias, soffits and rainwater goods | €4,200 |
Roof works including flashings, fascias, soffits, gutters and downpipes | €14,000 |
Tiling and waterproof finishes to wet areas | €2,800 |
Painting and Decorating | €10,500 |
Roof finishes | €14,000 |
Services including plumbing, heating, ventilation, power, lighting, telecommunications, smoke detectors, CO2 detectors | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
Kitchen units | €7,700 |
Sanitary-ware and bathroom fittings | €2,800 |
Necessary work needed on land around the home | €7,000 |
Extensions | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
Professional services for the work, such as fees for surveys. | 10% of the net construction cost including VAT or €14,000, whichever is the less. |
Author:
![Briain-Kelly](https://energyefficiency.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Briain-Kelly.jpg)
Briain Kelly
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCHER
Briain Kelly is a Leinster based journalist and content creator who has been writing about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for nearly three years. He researches the latest news in multiple areas related to solar power, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and home energy upgrades. His writing includes both technological developments and government policy.
Author:
![Briain-Kelly](https://energyefficiency.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Briain-Kelly.jpg)
Briain Kelly
Renewable Energy Researcher
Briain Kelly is a Leinster based journalist and content creator who has been writing about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for nearly three years. He researches the latest news in multiple areas related to solar power, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and home energy upgrades. His writing includes both technological developments and government policy.
Popular Content 🔥
Energy Efficiency Grants for the Islands
Written by
Briain Kelly
Last edited
08/09/2024
The SEAI provides grant funding to help homeowners in Ireland with the cost of making their houses and apartments more energy efficient.
Living on one of Ireland’s many offshore islands can make a lot of things more expensive, not the least of which is getting contractors out to perform construction and renovation works.
Fortunately, in recognition of this, the SEAI allows island homeowners to get grant funding at levels up to 50% higher than what is available for mainland properties.
James Dorrian, Managing Director of Energy Efficiency Ireland said, “Grants for home improvements aimed such as solar panels or insulation are extremely important if we want to make Ireland’s housing more energy efficient.”
“Cost is the biggest obstacle to having people take the plunge in carrying out retrofit works on their homes, so it is welcome that SEAI grants recognise that living on the islands can make everything more expensive.”
The additional funding is available for homeowners applying for Individual Energy Upgrades. This scheme allows people to apply for grants for singular upgrades, such as solar panels or wall insulation.
The Individual Energy Upgrades can be used for a wide range of measures which will make your home more energy efficient.
These include upgrades to the fabric of the building, with insulation in the walls or attic, or renewable energy systems such as solar panels or heat pumps.
The only home improvement grants for which island residents will not receive additional funding are for cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, and heating controls.
The islands where residents qualify for additional grant funding are:
![Internal-Wall-Insulation Internal Wall Insulation](https://energyefficiency.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Internal-Wall-Insulation-1.jpg)
“Houses on the islands are more likely to be older and in greater need of retrofitting to bring them up to modern standards,” James Dorrian said.
“It would be a shame to lose the unique character of island communities by having them fall to vacancy or dereliction. Or equally to have all of these older buildings replaced.”
Through the Individual Energy Upgrades Scheme, homeowners are also responsible for the entire grant application and installation process.
This differs from other avenues such as the One Stop Shop and Fully Funded Energy Upgrades schemes, where the process is handled by the selected contractor or SEAI.
Renovating Vacant Properties
Island communities also benefit from higher funding levels under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use.
This scheme provides funding to refurbish properties that have been vacant for two years or more in order to use them as housing.
Ordinarily, the grant scheme offers €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 to refurbish a derelict property.
However, people living on the islands can receive up to €84,000 to renovate a derelict building or up to €60,000 for a vacant property.
The scheme does not cover any works to make a house more energy efficient which is already covered by the SEAI, but it does encompass many structural works which aren’t.
Type of work | Maximum amount |
---|---|
Demolition and site clearance works including removing hazardous materials | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
Substructure works on foundations, rising walls, floor slabs, damp-proofing and underpinning | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
Superstructure works done on walls, chimneys, upper floors, stairs, roof structure and structural timbers | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
External doors, windows and windowsills | €21,000 |
Internal doors, frames, architraves, ironmongery | €7,000 |
Skirtings | €3,500 |
Fascias, soffits and rainwater goods | €4,200 |
Roof works including flashings, fascias, soffits, gutters and downpipes | €14,000 |
Tiling and waterproof finishes to wet areas | €2,800 |
Painting and Decorating | €10,500 |
Roof finishes | €14,000 |
Services including plumbing, heating, ventilation, power, lighting, telecommunications, smoke detectors, CO2 detectors | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
Kitchen units | €7,700 |
Sanitary-ware and bathroom fittings | €2,800 |
Necessary work needed on land around the home | €7,000 |
Extensions | Vacant Property Grant: €50,000 Derelict Top-Up Grant: €70,000 |
Professional services for the work, such as fees for surveys. | 10% of the net construction cost including VAT or €14,000, whichever is the less. |
Author:
![Briain-Kelly](https://energyefficiency.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Briain-Kelly.jpg)
Briain Kelly
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCHER
Briain Kelly is a Leinster based journalist and content creator who has been writing about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for nearly three years. He researches the latest news in multiple areas related to solar power, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and home energy upgrades. His writing includes both technological developments and government policy.
Author:
![Briain-Kelly](https://energyefficiency.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Briain-Kelly.jpg)
Briain Kelly
Renewable Energy Researcher
Briain Kelly is a Leinster based journalist and content creator who has been writing about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for nearly three years. He researches the latest news in multiple areas related to solar power, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and home energy upgrades. His writing includes both technological developments and government policy.