Mr. Robert Deegan:

To give a breakdown of the process first of all, applications are dealt with on a first-come-first-served basis and then prioritised on the basis of the BER. For a pre-works BER, the waiting time is approximately eight to ten months. Then the survey waiting time is 14 months from application. The time till work is completed last year was 20 months, this year it will probably be a little longer. There then will be a post-works BER to be completed after that.

In regard to contracting out the BER certification, that is the way the process works at the moment. My understanding is that an updated tender will be under way shortly which will expand the capacity to do that kind of work around the BERs, the surveys and inspections.

That area has been identified as one where some work could be done, and the SEAI will be taking steps in that regard. The challenge is that demand for the scheme has exploded for the reasons I mentioned. We are trying to break the problem into its component parts and come up with the best possible solution for each of those problems. We started at the end of the pipeline as the Deputy suggested, in terms of contractors and expanding the tender framework. Some 36 homes were the outcome of the tender. We would have been happier had that figure been 50, but only 36 applied for it and got through the process. It will be the same now moving back to the start of the process with the BERs and surveys, expanding the capacity and prioritising those homes as much as possible, while making sure people do not get left forever when they apply for something. That would not be ideal. Homes that maybe are not a priority are still in need of work. Again, this is an area we are looking at. Nobody is saying things are perfect. There is always room for improvement and this is an area we will have to improve in the period ahead.