Boiler Grant in Ireland

You may have heard that there is a boiler grant available for homeowners in Ireland – but what does this mean for you?

Boiler Grant

The boiler grant, which is government funded and available through SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland), allows homeowners to save money when replacing their heating system.

Why Get a Boiler Grant?

Many older homes run inefficient heating systems that cost the owners money.  Replacing an outdated system with a new, energy efficient gas or oil boiler can have a really positive effect.  The homeowners will save money, their energy use will drop (which, with our current energy crisis, is a very important thing to consider) and their home will likely be warmer and more comfortable.

Although upgrading your heating system will save you money in the long run, paying for that replacement is just not possible for most people in this financial climate. Not very many of us have hundreds of euros sitting in our bank accounts, unspoken for.  This is where the boiler grant comes in.

How Much is the Boiler Grant?

The boiler grant – which is actually called a Heating Controls with Boiler (Oil or Gas) Upgrade – is €560. The amount is fixed, which means you won’t get a higher or lower amount depending on your income or how much your upgrade will cost.  You would be very lucky indeed to be able to cover your entire boiler upgrade with a boiler grant of €560 but it does make a big difference to how much you will have to pay in total.

Who is Eligible for a Boiler Grant?

The boiler grant, along with the other grants available through SEAI’s Better Energy Homes scheme, is not means tested – therefore your income will not be taken into consideration.  All homeowners with homes built before 2006 may apply for a boiler grant.

In addition to the above, the following criteria must be met:

• Grant applicants must use a contractor on the Registered Contractor list for the Better Energy Homes scheme.  The applicant may purchase their own materials if they so wish.
• Grant applicants must also apply for a grant to cover the Building Energy Rating – BER – which must be carried out before work is undertaken.
• The grant must be used within 6 months of the application being accepted.
• The grant must be in place before any work can begin.

What Else do I Need to Know?

The boiler grant is easy to apply for – if you apply online you will have a decision instantly, and if you apply by post you will know within 20 working days whether or not you will receive a boiler grant.

Additionally, you should keep all invoices and receipts associated with your boiler grant.  SEAI will occasionally request to see these as evidence of the grant’s correct use.