'Grants for home energy upgrades must be increased'

Councillors in the region have called for increases to the grant amounts provided for home energy upgrades, and for the payments to older homeowners to be accelerated.

The calls for changes to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant scheme were made by Councillors Laurence Fallon and Tony Ward during a recent meeting of Roscommon County Council, which was given a progress report on the local authority’s climate action plan.

Cllr Laurence Fallon said there was a need for an increase to SEAI grants, which he said would be money well spent.

“I’ve had some involvement in the upgrading of homes, but there are many older homes where air-to-water pumps are not suitable. The cost of upgrading homes is huge,” said Cllr Fallon.

“The cost for homes built in the ’60s and ’70s is about €60,000, with maybe a €35,000 grant, and they (the homeowners) have to find the €60,000 and may be short €30,000. If the government are serious about this there is a need for a greater grant.”

The independent councillor proposed that the council write to the minister about the subject, which was seconded by another independent, Cllr Valerie Byrne.

Cllr Tony Ward said that, in dealing with older people in relation to grants, he found that in order for people to qualify for a grant, they would have to wait for around two years.

“The SEAI are saying to wait two years, but the people I’m dealing with are in their 70s and 80s and they may never get to draw down the grant,” said Cllr Ward.

“It is completely wrong and not appropriate for people who do qualify to have to wait two years. I propose that we write to the relevant minister about this.”

His motion was seconded by Cllr Leah Cull of Sinn Féin and, like the Fallon motion, it received the unanimous backing of members, who decided that the details of the two motions should be sent in one letter to the minister.

An Cathaoirleach Cllr Liam Callaghan acknowledged the SEAI grants, but said that people were fearful of upgrading their homes because of the cost of electricity.

“We have to be able to produce our own energy going forward, and have to really engage for our next generation of people.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme