Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I put it to the Minister that the warmer homes scheme is not a priority. The reason I say this is because the pre-works take eight to ten months, the survey takes 14 months, the works completed take 24 to 26 months and the post-works BER assessment takes two to three months. I appeal to the Minister, particularly with regard to people on the warmer homes scheme waiting list who are critically ill. They do not have the time. The situation is serious and I have not got any satisfaction from the SEAI because it says it is constrained. We have seen the most severe weather involving rain and storms. I know people in my constituency who are critically ill and desperately need these works to be done. Can the Minister fast-track these? Can he sit down with the Minister for Health and fast-track the cases on a humanitarian basis? People are experiencing elongated waits in hospital. The most vulnerable individuals in our society cannot come home because they are too cold because the work has not been done. We will work with the Minister to try to sort this out but it really needs to be sorted out.

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