700,000 face bill for heat systems change; Grants scheme for conversion to clean energy ‘woefully inadequate’

Almost 700,000 households will have to get rid of oil-fired central heating systems to help meet the country’s climate change commitments — but a new grants scheme for conversion to clean energy will only scratch the surface, leaving homeowners facing costs of thousands of euro.

Grants for upgrading oil and gas boilers to more efficient models end in the next few weeks and new grants for conversion to electric heat pumps are due to be rolled out in April.

However, the Department of the Communications, Climate Action, and Environment says it expects it will only help around 1,200 home-owners a year with grants. At that rate it would take 583 years to complete the conversion unless householders take the initiative and bear the full cost themselves.