Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes in the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny currently on the waiting list for the warmer homes scheme; and the approximate wait time. [6681/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister to detail the number of homes in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny currently on the warmer homes scheme waiting list and the approximate wait time.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. The warmer homes scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund.

Last year saw a record spend of almost €230 million under the scheme. This resulted in 7,743 upgrades being provided to low-income households, a 31% increase on 2023. This year’s budget has seen a further increase to a record allocation of €280 million. This represents a tenfold increase on the 2020 expenditure figure. The scheme has been delivering a greater number of more complex upgrades in recent years. This is reflected in the average cost of upgrades, which has increased from €2,600 in 2015 to an average of €27,700 in 2024. While these deeper retrofits take longer to complete, significant reductions in the average waiting time still have to be achieved. That is still an issue and I am glad the Deputy has raised it today. While the average wait time has reduced from 26 months in 2022 to 18 months for homes with BER ratings of E, F or G in 2024, we need to do better than that and I will be engaging with the SEAI on this.

Specifically on Deputy Cleere's constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, last year 123 homes in County Carlow and 99 homes in County Kilkenny were upgraded under the scheme. The SEAI data shows that there are 242 homes awaiting upgrades under the scheme in County Carlow and 290 in County Kilkenny.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the significant increase in investment in this area. The Government must continue to deliver exemplary retrofitting schemes. However, to make real improvements we must take a targeted approach and prioritise the least energy-efficient homes first. Homes with a BER of E, F or G should be prioritised over those rated C or D. As the Minister will be aware, many homes with a lower BER are occupied by the most vulnerable in our communities, including pensioners and low-income families who cannot afford to use the one-stop-shop grant system and are therefore faced with a months-long wait for the warmer homes scheme. What is being done to reduce waiting times for the warmer homes scheme?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad the Deputy has raised this today because while I have been able to read into the record details of a reduction in waiting times from 26 months to 18 months, which is fine, that is still a significant length of time for anyone to be waiting. The waiting time has reduced for E, F and G homes, so there is a prioritisation of the worst affected. I will be engaging with the SEAI to see if there is an opportunity to consider age cohorts as well, to see if we can prioritise our senior citizens living in energy poverty.

Applicants can contact the SEAI at any time to get further information on the status of their application and I will supply the contact details to the Deputy. Undoubtedly, significant work is required to clear what is effectively a backlog. These are more complex cases and we understand that. There is a certain processing time for applications and while I am glad to see that 26 months has been reduced to 18 months, we are still talking about a more than two-year wait reducing to a year and a half. We need to do better than that.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister's enthusiasm and commitment to this. In order to speed up delivery of the warmer homes scheme, we must tackle the shortage of skills in the retrofit sector. The programme for Government commits to providing more upskilling and training opportunities in retrofitting, to establish new courses in green skills to support Ireland's transition to a green economy and industry centres of retrofitting excellence nationwide. Once delivered, this vital training will go a long way towards reducing wait times. I urge the Minister to work with the Minister for further education, Deputy Lawless, to prioritise these commitments so that we can deliver much-needed retrofits to the most vulnerable in society at a quicker pace. I acknowledge the improvements that we have seen in the scheme but we need more pace and I welcome the Minister's drive in achieving that.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Growing green skills across the country was something in which the last Government was heavily involved and work is ongoing to grow this new sector. New apprenticeships are now in place and we will be working with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and other colleagues to further advance that. I visited many of those centres myself during the term of the last Government and was impressed. Obviously, there is pressure on skills across the economy because of full employment. That is a good thing but it comes with its challenges too.

I wish to reiterate that homes with a BER of E, F or G are prioritised. Undoubtedly addressing waiting times and reducing them further will require more skilled people in the workforce.

That is something I will engage with colleagues on.