Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress being made to reduce waiting times for the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49274/25]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures being taken to resolve ongoing delays in homes having their BER rating carried out under the free energy upgrades, warmer homes scheme to ensure the prioritising of older and poorer-performing homes for allocation of survey and works under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49278/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 151 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 over €29,000 in 2025. These deeper upgrades mean that more lower income homeowners are benefitting significantly from warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes. So far in 2025, 4,979 homes have been upgraded under the scheme.

As of February 2022, following a Government decision to improve targeting of the scheme towards the worst performing properties, homes built and occupied before January 1993 with a pre-works BER of E, F or G are prioritised for works.

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.

However, given the very high number of applications and greater volume of deeper retrofits provided under the scheme, the SEAI is projecting that new applications may face longer waiting times. My officials continue to work with the SEAI to further accelerate and maximise the output of free energy upgrades thereby minimising waiting times.