Notices from SEAI relating to COVID-19 crisis

Last updated 7th April 2021

On foot of Government guidance in respect of the COVID-19 emergency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is fully implementing measures to protect its employees and to help minimise the spread of the virus. All SEAI staff are now working from home and we will continue to operate the fullest levels of services possible to our clients and suppliers.

Please continue to take every precaution necessary to protect yourself, your family, your staff and the clients you interact with.

Please read specific notes below regarding SEAI programmes and activities.

Privacy Notice - COVID-19 Risk Assessmnet for site visits.

Updated following Government announcement on 30 March 2021

Last updated 7th April 2021

On 30 March 2021, the Government announced a phased easing of public health restrictions. Among the provisions announced is that from the 12 April, all residential construction can restart. The full details are available here.

On foot of Government guidance in respect of the COVID-19 emergency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) continues to fully implement measures to protect its employees and to help minimise the spread of the virus. All SEAI staff are working from home and we will continue to operate the fullest levels of services possible to our clients and suppliers.

For the moment be assured that:

  • The processing of applications for SEAI grant schemes remains unaffected by COVID restrictions. Likewise the electric vehicle scheme remains open for dealer applications.
  • We continue to process all grant payment claims in accordance within our normal service levels.
  • SEAI’s Building Energy Rating administration system is fully available for assessors to upload ratings and for persons to check specific property ratings online.
  • To ensure no additional impact on our valuable suppliers, our accounts team will continue to process all invoices speedily, and in accordance with standard payment terms. Likewise, our procurement team will continue to issue purchase orders for all required services to facilitate ultimate payment.
  • Other regulatory aspects of our work including administration of the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme and Market Surveillance Authority continues.
  • SEAI’s call centre remains open to answer any additional queries you may have
  • Client advocacy programmes through our energy efficiency network supports are temporarily affected because of social distancing. However, we remain available and have already introduced many alternative approaches to meet the needs of our clients.
  • SEAI is not able to advise any service provider in respect of special or additional precautions to take in conducting their own business, beyond those available from the HSE.

In this current exceptional environment, we are continually reviewing our programmes to see if there are other ways by which we can assist our customers and the public in general. Please continue to take every precaution necessary to protect yourself, your family and loved ones and anyone you interact with.

 

From the CEO and team at SEAI.

Updated following Government announcement on 30 March 2021

7th April 2021

This information is for contractors, installers, suppliers, and service providers undertaking activities within SEAI funded or administered schemes. This includes:

  • Home energy grants*
  • Solar PV grants
  • Deep retrofit pilot scheme
  • BER assessments
  • Community energy grants

*Separate guidance has issued to contractors completing works under Warmer Homes and Warmth and Wellbeing schemes.

On 30 March 2021, the Government announced a phased easing of public health restrictions. Among the provisions announced is that from the 12 April, all residential construction can restart. The full details are available here.

SEAI grant aided works should only proceed, where a contractor has fully assessed the risks and is fully satisfied that they can address the risks identified and thereafter complete the works envisaged while complying fully with the guidelines set out in the Return to Work Safely Protocol. Contractors alone are responsible for undertaking a thorough risk assessment of the property and all occupants, which will minimise the risks for you, your employees, the property occupants, and the wider community. The Health and Safety Authority is responsible for monitoring to ensure that workplaces comply with the National Protocol. 

SEAI further recommends:

  • Before proceeding with works, and informed by the contractor’s risk assessment, the contractor should obtain written consent to proceed with works from the homeowner / grant applicant / occupant. If any party has specific concerns relating to COVID-19 that cannot be satisfactorily addressed or managed, then works must be postponed to a later date. No party should feel pressurised or obliged to continue with works at any stage of a project or assessment.
  • Contractors should consider a holistic approach to works when deciding if a property can be fully retrofitted in accordance with Government guidance. Where contractors identify that some works must be deferred then consider deferring the entire project.
  • SEAI is not able to advise any service provider in respect of special or additional precautions to take in conducting their own business, beyond those available from the HSE and other expert authorities.
  • Here are some additional resources available to assist in planning a return to work.

 

NOTE: SEAI will reinstate the requirement for mandatory BERs for grant purposes and recommence onsite property inspections from Monday 19 April.

SEAI will continue to process all new grant applications for works and grant payment requests for works completed.

On foot of Government guidance in respect of the public health emergency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) continues to fully implement measures to protect its employees and to help minimise the spread of the virus. All SEAI staff are working from home and we will continue to operate the fullest levels of services possible to our clients and suppliers.

Updated following Government announcement on 30 March 2021

7th April 2021

On 30 March 2021, the Government announced a phased easing of public health restrictions. Among the provisions announced is that from the 12 April, all residential construction can restart. The full details are available here.

BER surveys should only proceed, where an assessor has fully assessed the risks and is fully satisfied that they can address the risks identified and thereafter complete the survey envisaged, while complying fully with the guidelines set out in the Return to Work Safely Protocol. BER assessors alone are responsible for undertaking a thorough risk assessment of the property and all occupants, which will minimise the risks for you, your employees, the property occupants, and the wider community. The Health and Safety Authority is responsible for monitoring to ensure that workplaces comply with the National Protocol.

SEAI further recommends:

  • Before proceeding with a BER survey, and informed by the BER Assessor’s risk assessment, the Assessor should obtain written consent to proceed with the BER from the homeowner / property owner / occupant. If any party has specific concerns relating to COVID-19 that cannot be satisfactorily addressed or managed, then the BER must be postponed to a later date. No party should feel pressurised or obliged to continue with an assessment.
  • SEAI is not able to advise BER assessors in respect of special or additional precautions to take in conducting their own business, beyond those available from the HSE and other expert authorities.
  • Here are some additional resources available to assist in planning a return to work.

BER Assessments for Grant Claims
Previously SEAI temporarily suspended requirements to furnish a valid BER at time of grant claim. SEAI will reinstate the requirement for mandatory BERs for grant purposes from Monday 19 April.

BERs required for property conveyancing / transactions
A BER is required for all buildings being offered for sale or let unless the building type is exempted as defined in SI 243 of 2012. The Government’s guidance of 30 March applies to carrying out BERs for property conveyancing/transactions.

Auditing
All audits will proceed as desk audits until further notice. Where you have a specific difficulty in completing an audit, you can contact your auditor to discuss alternative arrangements.

BER Systems
SEAI’s online systems will continue to be available to facilitate the publication of BERs by assessors and making them available online for property transaction / conveyancing purposes.

BER queries
We are continuing to operate our helpdesk as usual and can respond to any questions you may have.

Please continue to take every precaution necessary to protect yourself, your staff and your clients. Should you have any queries on any of the above guidance, please don’t hesitate to contact the BER helpdesk.

 

Best regards,

SEAI BER Team

14th October 2020

We understand that there may be unavoidable impacts and delays to SEAI supported research and innovation projects. In such cases SEAI will try to work pragmatically and practically with you to offer flexibility on a case-by-case basis in relation to the following items:

  • Deadlines for technical and financial progress reporting: The most recent reporting deadline was the end of August 2020. Payments are currently being processed for all awardees based on the technical and financial progress reports submitted. The next financial progress report/claim deadline will be the 28 February 2020. We encourage projects with upcoming project completion deadlines or other concerns to please contact us with any queries. In advance of the next financial progress report/claim deadline, to support organisations that are experiencing cashflow issues SEAI is temporarily facilitating more frequent financial reporting. Please contact us on email below if you wish to avail of this.
  • No-cost Time Extensions: No-cost time extensions will be offered on a flexible case-by-case basis. Please refer to the Grant Amendment Request Form for details of how to request a no-cost time extension – available to download in the Programme Documents section of our website here.
  • Project Cost Category Reallocations: please refer to the above Grant Amendment Request Form for details of how to request a reallocation.
  • Restructuring of project milestones or deliverables and associated timelines: Proposed restructuring can be detailed and requested within your next financial progress report in February 2021.

We are available to answer any queries you may have on the above via email to EnergyResearch@seai.ie or directly with your known project contact point in the SEAI RD&D team. We will do our best to respond as quickly as possible and can speak with you over the phone if helpful.

Please also refer to the SEAI website for any further updates.

Best wishes,
The SEAI RD&D Funding Programme Team

Updated following Government announcement on 30 March 2021

7th April 2021

On 30 March 2021, the Government announced a phased easing of public health restrictions. Among the provisions announced is that from the 12 April, all residential construction can restart. The full details are available here.  

Services to vulnerable energy poor homes will resume from the 12 April.

Contractors must fully assess the risks and be satisfied that they can address the risks identified and thereafter complete the works envisaged while complying fully with the guidelines set out in the Return to Work Safely Protocol. Contractors alone are responsible for undertaking a thorough risk assessment of the property and all occupants, which will minimise the risks for you, your employees, the property occupants, and the wider community. The Health and Safety Authority is responsible for monitoring to ensure that workplaces comply with the National Protocol.   

Prior to commencing and throughout each upgrade, all public health guidelines must be considered when assessing employee, homeowner, and occupant risks, within the working environment. SEAI is not able to advise any contractor in respect of special or additional precautions to take in conducting their own business, beyond those available from the HSE and other expert authorities.

For all Warmer Homes upgrades, it is preferable, for the health and safety of the occupants and contractor, that the house is vacated to the maximum extent possible.

For all Warmth and Wellbeing upgrades, the property must be vacated, in conformance with prevailing guidelines, for the full duration of the upgrade for the works to proceed.

A homeowner must not feel pressurised into completing an upgrade if they are not fully satisfied with the associated risk. Such work must be postponed until all parties are comfortable to proceed.

Contractors should consider the risks associated with engaging with any occupants during instances such as induction meetings, site visits, customer service tasks, heating system guidance and key handover tasks at the start and end of works.

Prior to commencing any home visit or works, contractors must secure any relevant consents and confirmations in writing, including but not limited to:

  1. Consent from the homeowner for the works to proceed.
  2. Confirmation that the homeowner has fully considered the practicalities and timelines involved, especially when vacating a home.
  3. Confirmation that the homeowner is satisfied for an SEAI appointed contractor to have access to the outside and inside of the property, for the duration of the works.
  4. Confirmation that safe arrangements for all the above have been agreed between the occupant / homeowner and the contractor’s representative.

On foot of Government guidance in respect of the public health emergency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) continues to fully implement measures to protect its employees and to help minimise the spread of the virus. All SEAI staff are working from home and we will continue to operate the fullest levels of services possible to our clients and suppliers.

 

Warmer Homes Team

18th May 2020

Dear SEAI ocean prototype development fund awardee,

On foot Government guidance in respect of the COVID-19 emergency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is fully implementing measures to protect its employees and to help minimise the spread of the virus. All SEAI staff are now working from home and we will continue to operate the fullest levels of services possible to our clients and suppliers.

We understand that there may be unavoidable impacts and delays to SEAI supported ocean energy research projects. In such cases SEAI will try to work pragmatically and practically with you to offer flexibility on a case-by-case basis in relation to the following items:

  • Time Extensions: Time extensions will be offered on a flexible case-by-case basis. The grant amendment request form is available on request. Please email Ocean.Energy@seai.ie if you require a form.
  • Project Cost Category Reallocations: As per above, please request the Grant Amendment Request Form for cost reallocation.
  • Restructuring of project milestones or deliverables and associated timelines: Proposed restructuring can be detailed and requested within your progress report.

Please note that increase in project cost will not be considered as part of this amendment process. All change requests must be within original budget envelope of your project.

We are available to answer any queries you may have on the above via email to Ocean.Energy@seai.ie or directly with your known project contact point in the SEAI Ocean team. We will do our best to respond as quickly as possible and can speak with you over the phone if helpful.

Please also refer to the SEAI website for any further updates.

Best wishes,

The SEAI Ocean Team