Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2022
45. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current numbers awaiting completion of works under the warmer homes scheme; the number of pending applications received in each of the past five years; the estimated energy savings on foot of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6980/22]
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 beginning of the roll-out of energy poverty schemes, over 146,000 homes have received free upgrades. The average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household in 2021 in the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme was €17,100.
For works completed in 2021, the latest data shows that the average waiting time from application date to works completed was approximately 26 months. The SEAI has 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 restrictions. Waiting times have significantly increased as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions where contractors were unable to carry out works for approximately 12 months.
There are currently just over 7,000 homes awaiting works on the Better Energy 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 or are awaiting the initial survey of their home. The SEAI aims to significantly reduce the waiting list in 2022, by completing an average of 400 homes per month - up from an average of 177 completions per month in 2021.
The following table sets out the number of pending applications received in each of the past five years 2017 to 2021:
|
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Total |
|
No. on waiting list for completion of works |
0
|
40 |
1,888 |
2,356 |
2,788 |
7,072 |
The estimated energy savings in 2021 for 2,126 homes completed are as follows:
|
Estimated energy saving (GWH) |
4.465 |
|
Estimated CO2 savings (ktCO2) |
1.107 |
Additional resources have now been secured for this area with a total of €267 million (of which €202 million is carbon tax receipts) allocated for SEAI residential and community schemes in 2022. €109 million of this 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.
