A NEW grant that will allow homeowners to upgrade their windows and doors, potentially saving them thousands on energy costs, has been approved.
The grant, which is being facilitated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, will be available to thousands of households from March 3.
These new grants, introduced as part of a package by Minister for Climate and Energy Darragh O’Brien, aim to make energy upgrades more accessible for households that cannot afford to complete a full retrofit at once.
And homeowners will be offered grants of up to €5,600 to retrofit their windows and doors.
Grants for windows and doors were previously only available for homes undergoing deep retrofits – which cost tens of thousands of euro.
But under the new scheme, homeowners can receive up to €800 per door with a maximum of two doors per property.
A maximum grant of €4,000 will be available for window upgrades.
This maximum amount applies to detached homes, with semi-detached and end-of-terrace properties able to avail of up to €3,000.
Mid-terrace homes can claim €1,800, while apartments and duplexes can claim €1,500.
The grants will, however, only be available to homes that are suitable for a heat pump.
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As part of the larger package, insulation grants will also be increased to €2,000 for attic insulation and €1,800 for cavity wall insulation.
First-time buyers of existing homes will be eligible for an extra €500 towards attic insulation, while homeowners receiving welfare payments will be able to avail of higher grant rates.
A grant of €4,000 will also be available to homeowners looking to install heat pumps in their homes.
Speaking on the announcement of the measures, Minister O’Brien said: “Last year, we helped more than 58,000 homeowners to benefit from energy upgrades under SEAI schemes.”
“We will build on that this year, widening the net to upgrade even more homes in 2026 and making home energy upgrades more affordable and accessible to all.”
‘GO EVEN FURTHER’
Chief Executive of SEAI, William Walsh, also welcomed the news.
He said: “Last year was a record year for SEAI, but now, with these new measures, we will go even further
“Bringing lower energy bills and more comfortable, healthier living to thousands more across the country.
“We’ve built up the industry, we have the expertise, and now we have the momentum.
“There really has never been a better time to retrofit your home, and at SEAI, we are here to help you every step of the way.”
