Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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267. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of warmer home schemes completed in each of the past five years; the average waiting time from application for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50528/21]

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.  In the first six months of 2021, the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was approximately €17,100. There are currently over 7,000 homeowners on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme.  Data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates that for homes completed in the first half of 2021, the average time from application to completion was approximately 26 months. The SEAI has advised 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.

The average wait times have increased significantly due to the extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in place during much of 2020 as well as between January and mid-April this year when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines. Wait times have also been negatively impacted by challenges associated with availability and longer lead time for materials. However, delivery capacity in the supply chain has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020.

Funding for SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased significantly to over €109 million in 2021, with €100 million allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget is available to 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. I have also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of Warmer Home Scheme homes completed in the past five years is set out in the Table below :

*2021 figures to end September2021

It is important to note that the depth and associated cost of the retrofits available under the scheme has increased significantly over the last number of years.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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268. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of one-stop-shop, home improvement schemes that have been completed through SEAI in each of the past five years; the average waiting time from application for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50529/21]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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299. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the average grant provided to a household for retrofitting their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51294/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 299 together.

This year, some €221.5 million in capital funding was provided for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes, including the Solar PV scheme and the Building Energy Rating programme.  This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. 

The National Home Retrofit Scheme (One-Stop-Shop Development Call) opened for applications in September 2020 with a funding allocation of €21.5 million for 2021. This Scheme is designed to encourage the development of retrofit One-Stop-Shops, to support home retrofit on a larger scale, and support the growth of the retrofitting industry. It facilitates home upgrades for private households, registered Housing Associations and Local Authorities who wish to participate in delivering home energy efficiency upgrades.

Following receipt and review of applications by the SEAI, 47 contracts were agreed with 24 participating One-Stop-Shops. Between them, upgrades were approved for over 1,500 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 or cost optimal energy standard as per Part L of the Building Regulations. The upgrades comprised a mix of privately owned homes and homes owned by Approved Housing Bodies.

The grant offerings to households range from approximately 35% for privately owned homes up to approximately 50% for Approved Housing Bodies. Based on the total grant offering across all 47 contracts, the average grant offering per house in 2021 was just over €15,000. Approximately 500 homes have been completed as of end September.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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269. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the budgets given to the SEAI for the retrofit scheme for each of the past five years; the amount spent per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50530/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Improving the energy efficiency of our homes and reducing their carbon emissions is a critical climate priority and a major focus of the funding provided in the National Development Plan review.  €5 billion in carbon tax receipts will be invested by my Department to support the achievement of our national targets which are to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2/cost optimal or carbon equivalent and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by 2030 with €1.3 billion of this to be provided for the period 2022-2025. I understand that the Question is confined to the Better Energy Warmers Homes Scheme.

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.  In the first six months of 2021, the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was approximately €17,100.

Funding for SEAI energy poverty retrofit schemes has increased significantly to over €109 million in 2021, with €100 million allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This is an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation 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. I have also secured additional resources this year to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is set out in the Table below.

(* to end September 2021)

It is important to note that extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity between March and June of 2020 as well as between January and mid-April 2021 had a significant impact on activity in 2020 and 2021.  Output has also been negatively impacted by challenges associated with availability and longer lead times for materials.Every effort is being made to maximise output now that construction activity in the residential sector has recommenced.