Required certification · Ireland
SEAI Registered Contractor
SEAI's list of contractors approved to do Better Energy Homes grant-funded upgrades in Irish homes
Market position
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) keeps a Registered Contractor List for its Better Energy Homes grants, and homeowners must pick contractors from that published list for grant-funded work. It covers wall and attic insulation, heating controls, heat pump systems, solar water heating, and windows and doors, and contractors may only do the measures they are registered for. Solar PV grant work has a separate SEAI installer register.
Ireland-specific note
Republic of Ireland only. SEAI's Code of Practice (v1.19, July 2026) requires a valid Tax Clearance Certificate, public, products and employers liability insurance with a yearly Declaration of Insurance, a quality management system and measure-specific competency under SEAI's Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications. For solar PV grants, the electrical installation must be certified by a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor.
Pros
- + Homeowners must use a registered contractor for Better Energy Homes grants
- + Listed on SEAI's public contractor search
- + Contractors can offer homeowners a price net of the grant
- + Route to working under One Stop Shops and Energy Partners
Cons
- − Tax clearance, insurance and a yearly insurance declaration must be kept up to date
- − All works subject to SEAI inspections and technical penalty points
- − Repeated non-compliant sign-offs can lead to deregistration
- − Contractors cannot apply for grants for homeowners unless under a One Stop Shop or Energy Partner
Typical Ireland pricing
No registration fee listed in SEAI's Better Energy Homes Code of Practice; registration requires tax clearance, liability insurance and a quality management system
Why this matters for Ireland trades
Since 1 September 2026 it is illegal for anyone who is not a Registered Gas Installer to carry out domestic or non-domestic gas works (S.I. No. 106/2026), and the CRU says Safe Electric registration for electrical contractors is the law; Safe Energy Ireland runs both schemes for the CRU. Principal contractors deduct RCT at 0%, 20% or 35% from subcontractors’ payments and file through ROS. The Irish payroll tools listed here say they send payroll submissions to Revenue and handle My Future Fund auto-enrolment. The statutory Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) is not yet mandatory: the CIF says applications open during 2027, and its Voluntary Construction Register runs until then.
Irish trades vendor selection is shaped by statutory registration (RGI for gas, Safe Electric for electrical contractors), Revenue payroll reporting under PAYE Modernisation, the My Future Fund auto-enrolment pension scheme that started on 1 January 2026, Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) on payments to construction subcontractors, and SEAI’s Registered Contractor List for grant-funded home energy upgrades.
Frequently asked
Is SEAI Registered Contractor a good fit for Ireland trades?
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) keeps a Registered Contractor List for its Better Energy Homes grants, and homeowners must pick contractors from that published list for grant-funded work. It covers wall and attic insulation, heating controls, heat pump systems, solar water heating, and windows and doors, and contractors may only do the measures they are registered for. Solar PV grant work has a separate SEAI installer register. Republic of Ireland only. SEAI's Code of Practice (v1.19, July 2026) requires a valid Tax Clearance Certificate, public, products and employers liability insurance with a yearly Declaration of Insurance, a quality management system and measure-specific competency under SEAI's Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications. For solar PV grants, the electrical installation must be certified by a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor.
What does SEAI Registered Contractor cost in Ireland?
No registration fee listed in SEAI's Better Energy Homes Code of Practice; registration requires tax clearance, liability insurance and a quality management system. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Ireland pricing on the vendor's site before committing.