Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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41. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which it is ensured that State retrofitting funding is directed to areas it is most needed, that is, to the lowest income, coldest and most vulnerable households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3702/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme, funded by my Department, delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 142,000 households have received free upgrades leaving them better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level.The 2021 budget for SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes is €109 million with €100 million allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget this year will support people vulnerable to energy poverty. 

To qualify for the scheme, homes must be built before 2006 and recipients must be in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department of Social Protection. These are:

- Fuel Allowance

- Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age

- Working Family Payment

- One-Parent Family Payment

- Domiciliary Care Allowance

- Carers Allowance and live with the person you are caring for

Recommendations on the implementation of changes to the scheme to better target those most in need will be finalised shortly.

In addition to the above, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Energy Efficiency Programme for 2021 has been allocated a budget of €65 million. This represents an increase of €20 million when compared to the 2020 allocation.

The Minister for Social Protection provides a Fuel Allowance payment, of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks, which is a total of €784 each year, from October to April, to an average of 372,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. In addition, the Minister for Social Protection also provides an electricity or gas allowance under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €265 million in 2021. This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year.