Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

111. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that homeowners who do not qualify for an SEAI grant after waiting over 18 months have to start the cycle again when applying for the warmer homes scheme which currently has a minimum of a two year waiting list; the measures he will introduce to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35799/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 143,000 homes under the scheme and in 2020 the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was over €14,800. €109 million in capital funding has been provided this year to support lower income households to retrofit their homes with €100 million of this funding allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents a €47 million increase on the 2020 allocation and is the highest ever budget for this scheme. The SEAI accepts applications for the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme from eligible homeowners year-round and operates independently of other SEAI schemes. Applicants to the Warmer Homes Scheme do not need to re-apply or restart the cycle after a given period of time.

SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in 2020, the average time from application to completion was approximately 18 months. COVID-19 related restrictions negatively impacted activity between March and June of 2020 as well as between January and April of 2021, when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government COVID-19 guidelines. Works under the scheme have now recommenced in line with activity in the residential construction sector.

The SEAI has advised me that the average wait times should only ever be used as a general guide and that wait times vary, based on the demand for the scheme at the time of application as well as other factors including the scale of works to be completed, access to the property, availability of materials and the weather.

In addition to the increased budget, capacity by the industry to deliver more activity has also increased due to a new, broader contractor panel to provide works which commenced at the end of 2020. I also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to allow it drive the various grant programmes that it operates, including the Warmer Homes Scheme, and to ensure that level of activity envisaged under the Programme for Government is delivered.