James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this important issue and I know he has raised it on a number of occasions. I am grateful for the opportunity to give an update on Government action on the better energy warmer homes scheme.

The programme for Government and the climate action plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a building energy rating, BER, of B2 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings by the end of this decade. These targets represent a very significant increase in both the volume and depth of retrofit activity in Ireland. The recently published national retrofit plan sets out how we will achieve these targets and identifies an unprecedented €8 billion to support homeowners to retrofit their homes to 2030. It includes a range of measures aimed at supporting those least able to afford to retrofit. Recently, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, also announced further improvements to the supports available to homeowners to retrofit their homes, in line with the commitments in the national retrofit plan.

The better energy warmer homes scheme delivers free energy upgrades to eligible homeowners in low income households who are vulnerable to energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Since the start of the scheme in 2000, more than 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. In 2021, the average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was €17,100. A budget allocation of €109 million has been provided for the scheme this year. This will support an increase in the number of free home upgrades from an average of 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month this year, helping to reduce waiting times.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications committed to reviewing qualifying criteria for the scheme, including the rule only allowing one visit to homeowners. I am delighted to tell the Deputy that several revisions to the scheme were made recently to better target those in need. For the first time, applications will be accepted from qualifying homeowners who previously received supports under the scheme but who could still benefit from even deeper measures. This means that applicants will now be able to have a second visit under the scheme. The scheme will target the worst performing properties by prioritising homes that were built and occupied before 1993 and have a pre-works BER of E, F or G. Existing applications will not be affected by this change.

The scheme eligibility criteria will also be extended to include those in receipt of the disability allowance for more than six months who have a child under seven years. The scheme is now open to applicants in receipt of the following welfare payments: fuel allowance; jobseeker’s allowance for over six months and having a child under seven; working family payment; one-parent family payment; domiciliary care allowance; carer's allowance where someone lives with the person they are caring for; and disability allowance for over six months and having a child under seven. The eligibility criteria are kept under ongoing review with the Department of Social Protection to ensure they are consistent with and complementary to the other income support schemes offered by that Department.

There are currently just over 7,000 homes awaiting works on the better energy, warmer homes scheme work programme. This includes homes that are awaiting the initial survey of their home; have completed an initial home survey and are awaiting allocation to a contractor; have been allocated to a contractor for works; or are currently undergoing works.

Activity under this scheme, and the associated expenditure, were significantly impacted in both 2020 and 2021 by the Covid pandemic, when construction activity was paused for approximately 12 months. However, activity did ramp up again towards the end of last year and there is confidence around the capacity to deliver 400 homes per month under this scheme this year. Works under the scheme have now recommenced in line with activity in the residential construction sector. SEAI data indicate that for homes completed to date in 2021 , the average time from application to completion was approximately 26 months, taking into account the increase in waiting times due to the impact of Covid. The Department is happy to confirm that the SEAI is now expecting that the current backlog can be cleared within the next 18 months.

A research network on fuel poverty chaired by the Economic and Social Research Institute has been established to examine the data and metrics needed to improve existing measures around fuel poverty in Ireland. The details I have outlined demonstrate the Government's significant commitments to supporting those at risk of energy poverty.

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