Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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83. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of warmer home scheme applications received, completed and disallowed in the past three years from applicants in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40467/21]

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 143,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. The approximate average value of the energy efficiency measures provided to households under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme was €14,800 in 2020.A total of €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes in 2021. Of this amount, €109 million is provided to support lower income households to retrofit their homes, with €100 million allocated to the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation for energy poverty schemes and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget will support people vulnerable to energy poverty. The funding will mean that more households can receive free energy efficiency upgrades making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, in line with the Programme for Government.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of warmer home scheme applications received and completed in the past three years for County Clare has been provided by the SEAI and is set out in the Table below. SEAI does not record county detail for ineligible applications and as such I have provided the nationwide figures:

**The SEAI uses the term "ineligible" rather than "disallowed" to classify applications which were not successful in meeting the eligibility requirements of the scheme.

It is important to note that the number of retrofits last year were unfortunately, negatively impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions. Enhanced COVID restrictions between January and April also had a significant impact on activity this year. Every effort is being made to maximise activity now that construction activity in the residential sector has recommenced.