Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to deal with the waiting list for the better energy warmer homes scheme; and the expected increase in demand following the increase in income limits for the fuel allowance for those over 70 years of age who benefit from the scheme. [55201/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 145,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing the waiting times on the Warmer Homes Scheme waiting list is a top priority for me. In order to reduce this timeline to completion and target a doubling of monthly average completions to 400 this year, the following actions have already been taken:

- The budget for this year, at €109 million, is nearly three times the 2021 outturn of €38 million and funding has also been sought through the European Regional Development Fund;• SEAI has been allocated additional staff for the Warmer Homes Scheme;

- SEAI is working to increase contractor output through active contract engagement and management.

Latest data provided to my Department by the SEAI indicates that, for homes completed in 2022, the longest time waiting for a survey was 9 months, and the average cycle time from application to completion was 27.5 months. Cycle times have been affected by COVID related issues which take time to wash through. In addition, there are deeper measures being provided under the Scheme since 2018, which involve more substantive works, which take longer to complete but provide much more significant works. The average cost per upgrade has increased from €2,300 to €18,753 between 2017 to 2022 reflecting the deeper upgrades now being provided.

Progress is being made and the latest data on completions per month show that the average number of completions between June and September this year is just over the 400 homes per month target.

It is important to note that at the end of 2021, there were just over 7,000 homes on the Better Energy Warmer Homes waiting list. While the number has risen to over 9,700 at the end of September, the majority of these applications were received in the current year. I want to see even higher output and reduced waiting times and I have asked the SEAI to redouble its efforts on this key Scheme and am providing every support I can to that end.

With regard to the expected increase in demand following the increase in income limits for the fuel allowance for those over 70 years of age who benefit from the scheme, there are a number of eligibility criteria besides being entitled to certain welfare payments, for example, home ownership, year of construction etc. In addition my Department, in conjunction with SEAI, is prioritising work on those homes with the lowest Building Energy Ratings.