Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important issue. I acknowledge the work that has been done in expanding the fuel allowance and the timeframe in which it has been allocated to people. The reality is that this winter has been particularly tough on many people who could not leave their homes to exercise and warm themselves up, especially older people who are cocooning. This winter has seen significant stress on many people because the fuel allowance they were being given was not enough to cover their costs.

The amendment tabled by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, who is accompanied by the Minister of State, refers to better homes energy supports for people who are on the fuel allowance. I wish to concentrate my few words on where I see that creating difficulties. There is currently in excess of 18 months' waiting time for those who apply for the scheme. The scheme itself is very simple. The application form is two pages long and very simple, but it is sent to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and nothing happens for up to two years. I got figures from the Department last week which show that there are probably in excess of 12,000 people who are still to have their homes inspected. There are several questions that arise in this regard. The homes of many people who applied in 2019 still have not even been inspected. We are talking about people coming out of fuel poverty by making their homes better equipped and more energy efficient. That is not happening in a timely fashion. We cannot blame Covid for this because the problem predates Covid and continues to be prolonged.

The scheme should be taken away from the SEAI and given to local authorities, which have the expertise to operate it. They are delivering disabled grants, housing aid for older people and mobility adaptation grants. They have that experience and they can deliver the scheme at a local level. They are currently delivering schemes without significant waiting times. That should be considered and addressed immediately.

As the anticipated number of houses were not improved last year or the year before, is that unspent money being carried over and added to the new announcements or is it just being lost and replaced by new money? It is very important to ensure that whatever money is allocated is spent. I have no faith that the money is being spent in a timely fashion at the moment.

Another issue with the scheme is the fact that people who were supported under a previous scheme to install attic insulation but who could not install cavity insulation because their homes have solid walls are now excluded from the additional grant aid now available in respect of external wall insulation. Those who benefitted previously cannot apply again. As such, their homes remain in the fuel poverty trap. If we are to have a just transition and bring in carbon tax, we need also to make sure that we keep up to speed with the retrofitting of such houses. They should be retrofitted in a manner and at a speed that keeps up to date with the issues that arise.

When giving out money or grants, it is very important that people are not told there is money available and given a big global figure. It is necessary to show how that money is being spent. We need to make sure it is getting to people as quickly as possible. I know the SEAI was reviewing the scheme to see how it could go be extended to applicants who had previously been successful but may not have availed of the full suite of measures required to increase one's building energy rating, BER. A BER should be done prior to the works being carried out and another should be carried out afterwards in order that we can see that there was an increase in the energy efficiency of the house. That is very important.

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