Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the warmer homes scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50882/25]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the waiting times for applications under the SEAI warmer homes scheme (details supplied); and his views on whether these delays are acceptable. [49718/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 119 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. This represents an 11-fold increase on the 2020 expenditure figure.

The scheme has been delivering 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, with lower energy bills and reduced emissions.

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.

It is important to note that these averages represent a significant reduction since 2022 when the average waiting time was 26 months. The reduction in waiting times follows a range of measures introduced by my Department and the SEAI. These include 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.

Given the very high number of applications (approximately 12,000 in 2024 compared to approximately 2,800 in 2021) and the greater volume of deeper retrofits being provided under the scheme, the SEAI is projecting that new applications may face the following waiting times:

• the usual processing time for applications is 5 to10 days from receipt;
• pre-works BER can be up to 12 months from application (if required);
• the survey is approximately 14 months from application;
• works are completed approximately 24 to 26 months from application; and
• the post works BER/inspection is approximately 2 to 3 months after works are completed.