Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
185. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes on the waiting list for the warmer homes scheme; and the number of households by the qualifying social welfare payment. [30827/21]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades leaving them better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. The approximate average value of the energy efficiency measures provided to a household under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme was €14,800 in 2020. There are currently over 7,800 homes on the Warmer Homes work programme. SEAI data indicates that for homes completed in 2020, the average time from application to completion was approximately 18 months nationally. The average wait times are expected to increase significantly in 2021 due to the extensive COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity between March and June of last year as well as between January and 12 April of this year when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines. Works under the scheme have now recommenced in line with activity in the residential construction sector.
The SEAI has advised me that the average wait times should only ever be used as a general guide and that wait times vary, based on the demand for the scheme at the time of application as well as other factors including the scale of works to be completed, access to the property, availability of materials and the weather.
The below table provides the approximate share of homes on the work programme for each qualifying payment.
|
Qualifying Payment |
% Breakdown |
|
Carers Allowance |
12% |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
10% |
|
Fuel Allowance |
71% |
|
Job Seekers Allowance, and child under 7 |
1% |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
1% |
|
Working Family Payment |
5% |
