Wall insulation

An individual energy upgrade

After you have selected your contractors and read the grant application steps, start your application.

Online application
On this page

Wall insulation better locks heat for a more comfortable home and lower energy bills.

Who can apply

Properties owned by the following applicant types are eligible:

The home needs to have an MPRN. It must have been built and occupied before 2011 for insulation.

Exclusions

The grant is not open to homes with previous funding for a wall insulation grant at this MPRN.

To receive the grant, all external walls of your home must be fully insulated. This is known as a whole-surface solution. Partial insulation is not eligible, for example only insulating one or two walls. Speak with your contractor to get advice on the best option for your home.

Types of wall insulation

Each type of insulation has a fixed value grant. The values for wall insulation are detailed lower on the page. See the attic insulation page for values related to attic upgrades.

Wall insulation types for your home:

  • Cavity wall insulation is when cavity walls are injected from the outside with insulation. Planning permission is not required for internal or cavity insulation.
  • Internal insulation (dry lining) is when insulation boards are fixed to the inside of external walls.
  • External wall insulation (the wrap) is when insulating materials are fixed to the outer surface of external walls.

Building Regulations

To receive a wall insulation grant, you must comply with the Building Regulations. If you're altering more than 25% of your home's surface area, extra regulations apply. In this case, your home must either:

  • Achieve a minimum B2 BER rating
  • Have a heating system and attic insulation compliant with the Building Regulation standard

Grants values for wall insulation

Detached house

  • Cavity wall insulation: €1,700 grant
  • Internal insulation (dry lining): €4,500 grant
  • External wall insulation (the wrap); €8,000 grant

Semi-detached or end of terrace

  • Cavity wall insulation: €1,200 grant
  • Internal insulation (dry lining): €3,500 grant
  • External wall insulation (the wrap); €6,000 grant

Mid-terrace

  • Cavity wall insulation: €800 grant
  • Internal insulation (dry lining): €2,000 grant
  • External wall insulation (the wrap); €3,500 grant

Apartments

  • Cavity wall insulation: €700 grant
  • Internal insulation (dry lining): €1,500 grant
  • External wall insulation (the wrap): €3,000 grant

Before you apply

Decide how to manage the upgrades

You can either: 

  • Apply yourself. You'll apply for the grant and manage the upgrade using a registered contractor. The grant is paid directly to the applicant once the works are completed.
  • Have a One Stop Shop manage the full upgrade. The One Stop Shop applies for the grant on your behalf and looks after the upgrade from start to finish. With this route, the grant is deducted upfront from the cost you pay the One Stop Shop.

Organise an ESB Networks Service Alteration

You may need an ESB Networks Service Alteration as part of external wall insulation works. It depends on the configuration of the electricity cables and wires in your home. Check with your contractor and contact ESB Networks before starting any works.

Understand how to claim your grant

The Homeowner Application Guide explains how to claim a grant, with terms and conditions.

How to apply

This is the process to follow if you're applying for the grant yourself. If you're using a One Stop Shop, they will take over this process for you.

If you are applying for the grant yourself, the next step is to choose your contractor. You must select an SEAI registered contractor. Please ensure your contractor is registered for the type of work that they are carrying out.

Be sure to:

  • Shop around to get the best quote
  • Check references and talk to previous customers
  • Get a written contract detailing the works, prices, time, payment terms and warranties

You must have grant approval before you start works. Make your application online or by post.

See question 2.7 on support for individual energy grant applications for details on applying as a company, owner management company, undertaking, charity and approved housing body.

To apply you need:

  • To be the owner of the property
  • The 11-digit MPRN of your property, which you can find on your electricity bill
  • The name and ID number of your registered contractor
  • Your dwelling type (for example apartment, detached, mid-terrace)
  • The grants you wish to apply for
  • Year your home was built and occupied

Once you receive your offer, you have 30 days to accept. After this period you will have to re-apply.

Apply online

Your application should be approved in minutes. You will receive a letter of offer in the post, along with Declaration of Works and Request for Payment forms.

Apply online

Apply by post

To apply by post, please download the application form and post it to:

Better Energy Homes Scheme,
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
P.O. Box 119
Cahirciveen
Co. Kerry

If you applied by post you should receive your grant offer within 5 working days. 

You have eight months from the date of the grant offer to drawdown the grant. Within this time you need to:

  • Have the works completed by an SEAI registered contractor
  • Get a post-works BER assessment and certificate
  • Return your completed and signed grant paperwork to SEAI

For questions about the process, please contact us at 01808 2004 or by email at [email protected].

Safety file from your contractor

Make sure to hold onto any documentation from your contractor. They must provide you with your safety file. For details on what it should contain, see '4.2 Safety file from contractor' on the support for individual grant applications page.

All grant applicants must carry out a post-works BER assessment. This is required before drawing down the grant. It must be carried out by a registered SEAI BER Assessor. There is a €50 BER grant available towards this.

Following completion of works, you must submit the following documents to SEAI:

  • Declaration of Works Form signed by you, your BER assessor and registered contractor
  • Request for Payment form
  • A Tax Clearance Certificate if you have received grant payments of more than €10,000 in a single calendar year

The Homeowner's Guide to Signing Declarations of Works contains help on signing the forms.

Grants are paid into your nominated bank account once we receive the forms mentioned in Step 5. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks to process the grant payment.

We sometimes carry out inspections to make sure your energy efficiency was improved as much as possible. If your home is inspected and reworks are necessary, your contractor will need to make a return visit. This will impact payment timeframes.

Read the Guide to Inspections to get a sense of what is involved if your home is inspected.

Considering a complete home energy upgrade?

A One Stop Shop can manage a full home energy upgrade to minimum BER B2 on your behalf. This will generally involve multiple upgrades. The grants are deducted from the cost of works upfront.

Upgrade to a minimum B2 BER