Can I get SEAI energy grants as well?

Yes. If your home is affected by defective concrete blocks, you can also apply for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grants to improve your home's energy performance. These measures were announced in 2024.

How do the two schemes fit together?

The Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme is run by your designated local authority and the Housing Agency. It helps you remediate a home damaged by defective concrete blocks. It is open to homes in:

• Donegal
• Mayo
• Clare
• Limerick
• Sligo

It supports remediation on a like-for-like basis, and energy efficiency upgrades to the 1997 Building Regulations. For more, see the government's Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme page and Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme information.

The SEAI home energy upgrade grant scheme for DCB homes is a separate scheme, run by SEAI. It helps you upgrade the energy efficiency and comfort of your home, to the 2008 Building Regulations or better.

Which SEAI grants can I apply for?

• A complete home energy upgrade to a minimum B2 BER
• Community grants and funding
• Individual energy upgrade grants
• The solar PV grant
• The EV home charger grant

What is a One Stop Shop?

One Stop Shops are registered private operators that provide every service you need for a complete home energy upgrade. They manage the whole process, from the first assessment of your home through to the final BER (Building Energy Rating). They offer:

• a fully managed service
• a wider range of grants
• grant values taken off the cost of works upfront
• less disruption
• access to the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme

Before you start: get a pre-works BER

You need a pre-works BER to use a One Stop Shop. Contact a One Stop Shop or your competent building professional before you begin any works or demolish your home. You can find a professional on the Engineers Ireland IS 465 register (Concrete Blocks and Mica).

Your home must reach a BER of B2 or better when the energy upgrade works are finished.

Which One Stop Shops work with DCB homeowners?

These registered One Stop Shops are currently working with homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks:

• Breffni Insulation: Donegal, Mayo, Sligo. Breffni Insulation's SEAI defective block scheme page
• Churchfield Home Services Limited: Mayo, Sligo. Churchfield Home Services website
• Electric Ireland Superhomes: Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Sligo. Electric Ireland Superhomes website
• Energyfix: Mayo, Clare, Limerick. Energyfix website
• Kore Retrofit Limited: Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Sligo. Kore Retrofit's SEAI defective concrete block scheme page
• Retrofit Energy Ireland Limited: Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Sligo. Retrofit Energy Ireland website

What do I need to confirm when I claim?

When you claim an SEAI grant, you and your competent building professional must both confirm that:

• the costs of the claimed works are more than your DCB remediation grant, and
• those parts of the works are not funded by any other scheme, including the DCB scheme.

In other words, SEAI pays for energy upgrades beyond what the remediation grant covers, not for the same work twice.

Who can I contact at SEAI?

SEAI has a dedicated team for homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks:

• Phone: 01 8082004 and select option 5
• Email: dcb@seai.ie

You can also contact us if you need help working out where to start.