Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
170. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that are being taken to increase warmer homes scheme output to 400 per month; and the average monthly output for the scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form. [17671/22]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 145,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. In 2021, the average cost of the energy efficiency measures provided per household had increased significantly to €17,100.
Activity under the scheme, and the associated expenditure, were significantly impacted in both 2020 and 2021 by the COVID pandemic, when construction activity was paused for approximately 12 months in total, and access to properties during restricted periods, in line with Government guidelines, was challenging. SEAI data indicates that for homes completed so far in 2022, the average cycle time from application to completion was approximately 27 months. While this delay was largely driven by COVID related issues, the deeper measures being provided under the scheme since 2018, also involve more substantive works.
This is a top priority for my Department and SEAI and in order to reduce this timeline to completion and target a monthly average of 400 completions this year, the following actions have already been taken:
- The budget, at €109 million, is nearly three times the 2021 outturn (€38 million) and funding has also been sought through the European Regional Development Fund;
- SEAI has been allocated additional staff for the Warmer Homes Scheme;
- SEAI is working to Increase contractor output through active contract engagement and management.
Any necessary further measures identified as required by SEAI to increase output under this key Scheme will also be taken.
The average monthly output for the Warmer Homes Scheme from 2016 to 2021 is detailed in the table below.
|
Warmer Homes Scheme |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Average Monthly Output |
562 |
546 |
434 |
262 |
127 |
177 |
In comparing the annual data, it is important to note that the depth and associated cost of the retrofits available under the scheme has increased significantly since 2018.
