Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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244. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of SEAI warmer homes grants that were approved in 2019, by county; the waiting time in 2019 for a surveyor to be allocated; the subsequent waiting time for work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15008/21]

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 143,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme. There are currently over 8,000 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.

3,142 homes were completed under the scheme in 2019, with the majority of these relating to applications made in 2018. The average time from application date to a surveyor to be allocated over this period was 4 months and the average time from surveyor allocated to works allocated was 2 months. The average value of works carried out in 2019 was €12,000. In comparison to 2020 a greater proportion of homes were receiving shallower works in 2019, which contributed to the shorter application cycle time and lower average cost.

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

The table below sets out the number of applications approved and completed homes per county in 2019.

2019 Warmer Homes Scheme work programme

*The majority of homes completed in 2019 were from applications made in 2018.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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245. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has engaged with the SEAI on the current backlog of applications for the SEAI warmer homes grant; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15009/21]

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, the Government has provided funding for free upgrades to over 142,000 homes 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 initial survey. SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in 2020, the average time from application to completion was approximately 18 months. The scheme operates nationally on a first come first served basis and the wait times have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.

My Department regularly engages with the SEAI in relation to the operation of the Scheme. 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 have also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme.