Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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204. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason low-income pensioners who own their own homes are precluded from availing of SEAI home energy grants for wall insulation in cases in which they received support previously for attic insulation in view of the fact that wall insulation was not covered by the grant originally; his views on whether this is fair or reasonable for low income pensioners who struggle to afford to heat their homes; the reason a review of the scheme has not yet been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13475/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes 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 and in 2020 the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was over €14,800. There are currently over 7,800 homes on the scheme work programme. This includes homes that: are currently undergoing works; have been allocated to contractors for works; completed an initial home survey and are awaiting allocation to a contractor or are awaiting an initial survey. The homeowners on the work programme have never received any works previously under the scheme.

SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in 2020, the average time from application to completion was approximately 18 months. This has been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The average time for a surveyor to be allocated over this period was approximately 8 months.

My Department is in regular contact with the SEAI in relation to the operation of the Scheme. Work in relation to recommendations on the implementation of changes to the scheme including the issue of repeat upgrade visits has been ongoing in recent months and is nearing completion. 

In addition, funding for the SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased to over €109 million in 2021 - an increase of €47 million on last year.

Furthermore, delivery capacity has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020.

I have also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme.