Minister to seek approval for boiler scrappage scheme

Minister for the Environment Darragh O'Brien is to seek Cabinet approval for a new boiler scrappage scheme.

Grants of €2,000 are to be made available to scrap oil and kerosene boilers being replaced by heat pumps. This is in addition to the existing grant of up to €12,500 available for heat pumps, thereby bringing potential savings of up to €14,500 for households.

Mr O'Brien is to tell his Cabinet colleagues of a new set of enhanced grants to help households and businesses reduce energy costs and move away from fossil fuels, with a €600 battery grant also to be made available.

Mr O'Brien will argue how the new grants will help strengthen Ireland's energy security.

Ministers will also discuss enhanced supports for households at risk of energy poverty.

The new supports, developed through the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT), include a range of improvements to the schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that will make it easier and more affordable for households and businesses to improve energy efficiency, install renewable energy technologies and switch to cleaner heating systems.

The moves come as Mr O'Brien prepares to chair a gathering of European energy ministers in Dublin today as the EU looks to cushion the impact of soaring energy prices ahead of a potentially difficult winter.

Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen wrote to the 27 member states ahead of the meeting, recommending measures to reduce demand for electricity and gas to help contain prices.

The informal talks - held in Dublin Castle under Ireland's Presidency of the EU - are not expected to result in major decisions, but will help coordinate action among the bloc's nations.

Speaking on the new grants in New York last week, Mr. O'Brien said: "A lot of people in this country, particularly in rural areas, are dependent on kerosene and home-heating oil. You have seen the increases in prices particularly in that area."

The boiler scrappage scheme would be a "top up" of existing grants to install heat pumps, he said.

Minister O'Brien said it will be used for boilers at the end of their lifespan "beyond a certain year", and that energy is an area where people are under pressure.