The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Warmer Homes Scheme on behalf of my Department. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing the waiting times for the Warmer Homes Scheme is a top priority for my Department and the SEAI. My officials continue to work with the SEAI to maximise and accelerate the output of free energy upgrades provided under this important scheme.
Last year the SEAI launched a new online application service in partnership with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). This online portal provides immediate confirmation of eligibility for homeowners who meet the eligibility criteria. Homeowners can also still apply through a paper-based application. A home assessment takes place once the homeowner is deemed eligible to determine whether the home is a suitable home. The average waiting time for this assessment is 8-10 months. The entire process, along with up to date average waiting times for each stage of the scheme, are published on the SEAI’s website: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/fully-funded-upgrades-for-eligible-homes/
Currently there are 20,201 homes on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme. This includes homes that: are currently undergoing works; have been allocated to contractors for works; have completed an initial home survey and are awaiting allocation to a contractor; and that are awaiting the initial survey of their home.
For the homes completed in 2023, the average waiting time from application to completion was 20 months. This is a reduction from 26 months for homes completed in 2022. The significant reductions in the average waiting time have been achieved through, inter alia, the following actions taken to reduce the timeline to completion and increase output under the scheme:
• Record funding has been allocated;
• SEAI has been allocated additional staff for the Warmer Homes Scheme;
• SEAI has worked to increase contractor output through active contract engagement and management;
• Actions were taken to address ongoing supply chain and inflationary pressures; and
• A new €700 million contractor panel has been put in place for the next 4 years, which has increased contractor capacity to 36.
The SEAI advises that the cost of a retrofit depends on a range of factors including the size and type of home as well as the age and starting condition of the property and the retrofitting works required or recommended. In recent years, the Warmer Homes Scheme has delivered a greater volume of deeper and more complex upgrades. This is reflected in the average cost of upgrades which have seen an almost tenfold increase from €2,600 in 2015 to just under €25,000 in 2023.
The data requested in tabular format can be found in the tables set out below. Where the information is not readily available I have directed SEAI to reply to the Deputy with the data requested, in so far as it is available, as soon as possible.
Table 1. No. of Applications per month Warmer Homes Scheme 2020 to 2024
|
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
June
|
July
|
Aug
|
Sept
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
2020
|
245
|
372
|
323
|
272
|
262
|
220
|
213
|
58
|
227
|
208
|
235
|
151
|
|
2021
|
140
|
305
|
305
|
180
|
210
|
261
|
216
|
154
|
137
|
262
|
291
|
413
|
|
2022
|
286
|
105
|
474
|
1523
|
1688
|
926
|
549
|
682
|
567
|
1421
|
1018
|
700
|
|
2023
|
924
|
1383
|
2100
|
1246
|
1506
|
1114
|
895
|
911
|
712
|
1222
|
883
|
1087
|
|
2024
|
1677
|
1435
|
1262
|
1288
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: This table does not include applications made under the Warmth and Wellbeing scheme.
Table 2. Number of applications per year under the Warmer Homes scheme 2020 - 2024
|
WHS
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
Total
|
|
|
2,786
|
2,874
|
9,939
|
13,983
|
5,662
|
41,522
|
Note 1: This table does not include applications made under the Warmth and wellbeing scheme.
Note 2: The number of applications which were ultimately deemed ‘suitable homes’ following an initial assessment of the home is not routinely supplied by SEAI to my Department. I have directed SEAI to reply directly to the Deputy with the data requested, in so far as it is available.
Table 3. Average cost per year 2020 to 2024
|
WHSAverage Cost
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
|
€15,350
|
€17,100
|
€21,000
|
€24,006
|
€24,845
|
|
