Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022
158. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the efforts being made to reduce the waiting time and clear the backlog of applications pending under the warmer home schemes; if expediting of applications on medical need can be considered at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4029/22]
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. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the scheme started, over 143,000 homes have received free upgrades. The average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household in 2021 was €17,100, an increase of approximately €1,000 per home since 2020. In order to qualify for support, applicants must own and live in their home which must have been built and occupied before 2006 and must be in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Health status is not part of the eligibility criteria for the Scheme.
The average wait times were impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions on construction activity in place for periods during 2020 and 2021 when the scheme was fully paused in line with Government guidelines. Wait times have also been impacted by challenges associated with availability and longer lead in time for materials. The SEAI has also advised that wait times may vary, based on a number of issues. For instance, once the survey is completed and works are allocated to a contractor, the time to complete works is dependent on a number of factors including the scale of works to be completed, access to the property, availability of materials, weather and in recent years COVID-19 public health restrictions.
There are currently just over 7,000 homes awaiting works on the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme work programme, a reduction of approximately 300 since December 2020. 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. The SEAI aims to significantly reduce the waiting list in 2022, on the basis of working first on homes that are longest on the waiting list.
SEAI data indicates that for homes completed to date in 2021, the average time from application to completion was approximately 26 months. For the same period, the average time for a surveyor to be allocated was approximately 18 months, a reduction of five months since December 2020.
Budget 2022 has allocated €202 million for residential and community retrofit this year. Over half of this (€109 million) will be used to provide free energy efficiency upgrades to households in the Warmer Homes Scheme. In addition, delivery capacity in the supply chain has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020. I have also secured additional resources to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme. SEAI received additional funding in Budget 2021 which delivered an increase of 30 staff across the organisation and Budget 2022 is providing funding for a further 30 staff this year. Every effort is being made to maximise output since construction activity in the residential sector recommenced in mid-April 2021.
The Deputy may wish to note that there are other grants and schemes available from Government that could assist homeowners if there is an urgent need. These include the Department of Social Protection (DSP) Urgent Needs Payment available through the Community Welfare Service at local DSP offices and the grants funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to support housing adaptation and upgrade for older persons and people with a disability.
