Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures being taken to reduce the current long wait times for surveying and commencement of works under the warmer homes scheme, free energy upgrades for eligible homes; when applications under this scheme will be open for second-time applicants given that certain works are now available that were not available on their initial uptake of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13253/21]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he has taken in order to deal with the waiting time for the warmer homes scheme; the number of households waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13086/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 122 together.

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. 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.

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. 

Funding for the SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased to over €109 million in 2021 - an increase of €47 million on last year. In addition, delivery capacity has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020. I also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme. My Department is also in regular contact with the SEAI in relation to the operation of the Scheme.