Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications received by SEAI for the better energy warmer homes schemes in 2019 and 2020; the average timescale of work being completed once approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5737/21]

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). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty.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. There are currently over 7,000 homes on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. This includes homes that are: currently undergoing works; have been allocated to contractors for works; have completed an initial home survey and are awaiting allocation to a contractor or are awaiting the initial survey of their home.

The number of applications received by SEAI for the scheme in 2019 and 2020 is set out in the table below.

Eligible homes are allocated on a first come, first served basis and the average wait time from receipt of application to allocation to contractor is currently 23 months. Once allocated to a contractor the time to complete works is dependent on a number of factors including the scale of works to be completed, access to the property, availability of materials, weather and more recently COVID-19 public health restrictions.

The work programme was negatively impacted by Covid-19, particularly between March and June 2020 when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines. The impact of the current restrictions on the scheme is being closely monitored and activity will recommence as soon as possible.