Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment with regard to the warmer homes scheme whether the eligibility criteria is sufficient to ensure the most vulnerable have access to the scheme; how are the poorest, coldest homes identified and targeted; if there are plans to expand the eligibility criteria of the scheme to include those on invalidity pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3416/24]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister about the eligibility criteria for the warmer homes scheme, whether he will extend the scheme to people on invalidity pensions, and how he targets it?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. The warmer homes scheme targets support to those most in need and living in the least efficient homes so that the resources available can have the greatest impact. To that end, eligibility for the scheme is linked to a number of Department of Social Protection payments. Homeowners can check their eligibility for the scheme through a recently launched online application feature on the website of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland or can apply in writing to SEAI. Applications are assessed on the basis of the date of application to SEAI, with priority then given to those living in the worst performing homes with building energy ratings of E, F and G. We discussed that issue earlier.

The scheme eligibility criteria are kept under ongoing review by my Department, together with the Department of Social Protection, to ensure they are consistent with, and complementary to, the other income support schemes offered by that Department. The scheme is very popular, with 24,000 applications received over the past two years, and there are no current plans to amend the eligibility criteria.

It is important to note that households where someone is in receipt of an invalidity pension may also qualify for one of the Department of Social Protection payments eligible for the warmer homes scheme, such as the fuel allowance. However, this would be subject to the household meeting the relevant Department of Social Protection operational guidelines and means test, where required. In this regard, my Department has no function in relation to the Department of Social Protection schemes, means testing or payments. There are other supports available for people who do not meet the qualifying criteria for upgrades under the warmer homes scheme, which include part-funded SEAI grants, housing adaptation grants under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the supplementary welfare allowance-additional needs payment from the Department of Social Protection.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister very much needs to review this scheme and extend its eligibility. The Minister did not touch on how the Department identifies homes to be prioritised. Is his Department identifying the coldest and oldest homes? What way does his Department go about that? A point was made earlier that those with particular medical needs should also be prioritised.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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I am coming back on this again to the Minister because too many of the people who are on the Minister's list for 26 months do not have that length of time, unfortunately. Will the Minister please look at this to prioritise people, especially those people who have cancer or are terminally ill? Will he please do that, even from a humanitarian perspective? It has to be done. We cannot sit here while this is happening and while people are spending their last days in freezing cold homes.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I will give detail with regard to who is eligible. The eligibility payments are for those in receipt of fuel allowance, jobseeker's allowance for more than six months, working family payment, one-parent family payment, domiciliary care allowance, carer's allowance where the recipient is living with the person they are caring for, and disability allowance for more than six months, or where they have a child under seven years of age. That is continuing to be broadened. It has not stayed static. There has been significant change in who would be eligible.

To answer the Deputies' question directly, the prioritisation is, first, on the time of the application but, given that, there is also prioritisation to those living in the worst performing homes with building energy ratings E, F or G. Going back to our earlier discussion, those are the houses we have to tackle first. We will continue to review the eligibility, but that has to be done with the Department of Social Protection because it is that Department's schemes which define who can apply.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I am happy to move on, Chair, if you want to take the next-----

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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Is there a supplementary question?

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I would like to come in on my Question No. 104

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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The Deputy only has 60 seconds.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I will take the 60 seconds, if you do not mind.