Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021
28. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons on waiting lists for each SEAI grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3341/21]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Partial grants are available for individuals that can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty.
€221.5 million in capital funding has been provided this year through my Department's Vote to the SEAI for residential and community retrofit schemes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes. Of this amount, €109 million is allocated to provide free upgrades for lower income households with the balance of €112.5 million to be spent on expanding existing SEAI grant schemes and introducing new initiatives.
The free upgrade schemes are directly provided by contractors procured by SEAI while the other schemes allow homeowners to procure their own contractor, secure approval from SEAI and draw down a grant once the works are completed.
There are currently over 7,000 homes on the Warmer Homes Scheme work programme with approximately 310 on the Warmth & Wellbeing 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,
· or are awaiting the initial survey of their home.
Eligible homes are allocated on a first come, first served basis, and the average time between application and allocation to a contractor is now 22 months. In addition to the increased budget for the schemes referenced above, capacity by the industry to deliver more activity has also increased due to a new, broader contractor panel to provide works which commenced at the end of 2020.
Under the Better Energy Homes programme, works must be completed within an 8 month period, starting from the date of grant approval. Applicants are responsible for selecting their registered contractor and ensuring works are completed to the programme requirements. Better Energy Homes does not assign contractors to applicants so there is no equivalent scheme work programme.
Aggregation based schemes under the National Retrofit Programme approve applications which meet the qualifying criteria on an ongoing basis until the annual budget is exhausted. Work on these schemes can commence as soon as grant approvals are given to each project with works to be completed by mid-October this year.
Full details on the application processes for schemes operated by the SEAI are available at www.seai.ie.
COVID-19 related restrictions have impacted the delivery of retrofit activity under the various schemes. Works are currently suspended in line with the public health measures in place under Level 5 as announced by Government on 6 January, and will recommence as soon as the public health advice allows.
