Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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107. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the SEAI are currently advertising on e-tenders for contractors to carry out works under the better energy warmer homes scheme, due to the present 27-month delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60682/22]

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) and over 145,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme since it became operational in 2000. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing wait times on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme is a top priority for my Department and the SEAI. SEAI engages with the supply chain on an ongoing basis and has provided regular and significantly bigger works allocations to the supply chain to support increased delivery under the scheme.

Progress is being made and the latest data on completions per month show that, since June, home completions are meeting the 400 homes per month target, an increase from 177 last 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.

Latest data provided to my Department by the SEAI indicates that, for homes completed in 2022, the average cycle time from application to completion was 27 months. Cycle times have been affected by COVID related issues which take time to wash through. In addition, deeper measures have been provided under the Scheme since 2018, which involve more substantive works and take longer to complete but provide much more significant upgrades for homeowners. This is evident from the average cost per upgrade which has increased from €2,300 in 2017 to €18,750 in 2022.

The SEAI advise that the Warmer Homes Scheme Contractor panel, appointed in November 2020 for a period of 1 year with an option to extend for 3 additional years, have recently received a second contract extension for 2023. SEAI will review future requirements throughout 2023 including consideration of a future tender.