Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland will permit a contractor to commence works under the better energy warmer homes scheme in the house of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28290/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. Earlier this year, in line with public health and Government guidelines in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, all works under SEAI funded schemes were advised to pause for a period of time.  On June 29^thSEAI advised contractors working on the Warmer Homes scheme, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for reopening society and business and Return to work safely protocol, that works in homes that could be classified as lower risk under the scheme could resume. This allowed works to resume/commence in a small number of homes, subject to the parameters set out by SEAI and athorough risk assessment of the property and all occupants by the contractor. The aim at all times was to minimise the risks for the homeowners and property occupants, contractors, their employees and the wider community.　

On July 20th SEAI broadened these parameters, enabling contractors to carry out more works in more homes, again subject to risk assessments taking into account COVID-19 risks associated with engaging with any occupants during instances such as but not limited to, induction meetings, visits, customer service tasks, heating system guidance and key handover tasks at the start and end of works. It remains the case however that approximately 50% of the homes allocated to contractors are deemed ‘very high risk’, and therefore activity has not returned to pre COVID-19 levels.　

Officials in my Department have contacted SEAI regarding the constituent referred to by the Deputy.  SEAI has confirmed that this application has been assigned to a Contractor, who will contact the homeowner directly in relation to when works will commence on the home.  SEAI also confirmed works taking longer than one day to complete remain postponed on all homes where any occupant is in the ‘very high risk’ group, as defined by the HSE. This is due to the intrusive nature of the works on the schemes, with multiple crew members in homes working in close proximity and often over long periods.

SEAI is mindful of the concerns that homeowners have with winter approaching and this is taken into account in its decision making as to how soon the scheme can move to the next phase.  This must be balanced, however, with the continuing risks of COVID-19 for applicants, contractors and the wider community. SEAI have been reviewing how to ensure the scheme aligns with the recently published 'Plan for Living with Covid-19'.  My officials have been informed by the SEAI that a communication to contractors in this regard is imminent.