Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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43. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications for the SEAI warmer homes grant to date in 2023; the average length of time people are waiting for the works to commence; what measures he is taking to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49758/23]

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 households vulnerable to energy poverty. This year's budget of €148.5 million is the highest ever allocation for the scheme.

Increased awareness of the multiple benefits of retrofit and improvements to the Warmer Homes Scheme are driving increased levels of demand for the scheme with over 12,300 applications received so far in 2023.

The Scheme is delivering deeper upgrades with more emissions reductions and energy savings for homeowners. The average cost of upgrades increased to €24,000 in 2023 and these deeper upgrades take a longer time per home to complete.

To end October this year, over 4,500 homes have been upgraded. This is already more homes than were completed under the scheme in all of 2022 and we are on target to upgrade 6,000 homes under the scheme by the end of the year.

The average waiting time from application to completion in Q3 2023 was just under 20 months. This is a decrease from an average of 26 months for homes completed in 2022. The reduction in wait times follows a range of measures introduced by my Department and SEAI including enhanced budgets; increased staffing resources in SEAI; and actions to address supply chain challenges.

SEAI also established a new contractor panel in September this year, adding 7 additional contractors bringing the total to 36.

My officials continue to work with the SEAI to maximise and accelerate the output of free energy upgrades delivered.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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At the request of the District Heating Steering Group, a research project was initiated to assess the viability of retrofitting an existing communal heating system with a shallow geothermal energy source. An independent consultancy was commissioned by the SEAI to undertake this research.

The report has now been finalised and contains recommendations in relation to heat network efficiency and options for low-carbon heat alternatives, including costs of installation and operation. The report will be published by the end of November.

It is important to note that the scheme in question is privately owned and managed, and implementation of any of the recommendations would be a matter for the relevant parties to decide upon.