Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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191. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason that persons who are on invalidity pension are not included as eligible to benefit from the SEAI warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57895/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Warmer Homes Scheme offers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners who are most at risk of energy poverty. Eligibility for the Scheme is linked to receipt of certain Department of Social Protection payments, outlined on the SEAI website. They are kept under ongoing review with the Department of Social Protection to ensure they are consistent with and complementary to the other income support schemes offered by that Department.  I understand that the Invalidity Pension is a qualifying payment for the Fuel Allowance, which is a means tested payment. Fuel allowance, in turn, is a qualifying payment for the Warmer Homes Scheme. 

Households can contact the Department of Social Protection to check whether they meet the relevant criteria. 

All information on the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is available on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/free-upgrades-for-eligible-homes.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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192. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding programme for the SEAI community grants in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57899/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Communities Energy Grant Scheme is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.The Scheme supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings with a particular focus on using the projects to deliver home retrofits.

Demand for the CEG Scheme has been very strong since the launch of this year’s Call for Projects in March. To date, 17 contracts with a grant value of over €42 million have been issued by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and a further 7 applications are currently under evaluation within the SEAI. All of which points to a strong pipeline of works under the scheme for the remainder of this year and into 2023.

Budget 2023 included an exchequer capital funding allocation of €337.3 million for the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including the Solar PV scheme. Of this allocation, €291 million is being provided from carbon tax revenue.

This overall allocation is the highest ever and means that the Community Energy Grant Scheme will have a record budget allocation for 2023.

The final details of the funding allocations to each SEAI scheme is currently being finalised as part of the 2023 SEAI business planning process.