Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

218. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that currently the SEAI are giving timelines of completion of all works of 26 months under the free energy upgrades, warmer homes scheme for County Cork; the measures being taken to reduce these timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42496/25]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

259. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the proposals to speed up the processing of applications and payment of grants in respect of the warmer homes schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43239/25]

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

295. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the work being done by his Department to reduce the waiting period for the warmer homes grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43593/25]

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

298. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the waiting period for applicants to the warmer homes grant scheme, by local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43721/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 218, 259, 295 and 298 together.

The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund.

Last year saw a record spend of almost €230 million under the scheme. As reported by the SEAI, this resulted in 7,743 upgrades being provided to low-income households. This year’s budget includes an allocation of €280 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme.

These budgets have allowed the scheme to deliver a greater number of deeper and more complex upgrades in recent years. This is reflected in the average cost of upgrades, which the SEAI indicates has increased from €2,600 in 2015 to just over €29,000 in the first half of 2025. These deeper upgrades mean that more lower income homeowners are benefitting significantly from warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes. So far in 2025, 3,378 homes have been upgraded under the scheme.

For homes completed in 2024 the average waiting time was 18 months for the worst performing homes (those with a BER of E, F or G) and 19 months for better performing homes.

The average waiting time under the Warmer Homes Scheme, from application to completion of upgrade works to date in 2025, was 21 months for the worst performing homes and 22 months for better performing homes. This is a reduction in waiting times following a range of measures introduced by my Department and the SEAI, which includes the allocation of additional staff to the Warmer Homes Scheme; a significantly increased budget allocation; active contract engagement and management by the SEAI to increase contractor output; as well as actions to address ongoing supply chain pressures.

My Department and the SEAI continue to keep waiting times under review and to work to deliver energy upgrades to low-income households and reduce the waiting times for the Warmer Homes Scheme as a priority.

Applicants can contact the SEAI at any time to get further information on the status of their application either by email or by telephone – details are on the SEAI website. Oireachtas members can make queries on behalf of applicants by contacting the dedicated email address oireachtas@seai.ie.