Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
171. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of Staff allocated to the warmer homes scheme on an annual basis for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41778/22]
View answerIt is worth noting at the outset that the backlog that relates to the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is largely a function of the disruption caused by the pandemic over the course of 2020 and 2021 where it was not possible to gain access to properties to carry out surveys and works for extended periods. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has informed my Department that it expects the situation to improve significantly during this year with close to 400 homes targeted for completion per month, compared to 171 in 2021. This will be aided by the recent expansion of the contractor panel.
The mix of homes upgraded has changed over the years. Where in the past, a high volume of shallow upgrades was performed, at present a lower volume of deeper energy upgrades with multiple measures is undertaken. Energy upgrades to these homes cost more, take longer and are more technically complex as the interfaces between energy upgrade measures needs to be right. The competence of resource to service the Scheme has adapted accordingly. The resources assigned to the WHS have grown over the past few years, particularly to address delivering energy upgrades since the lifting of COVID restrictions. The staff assigned to WHS consist of staff working directly with SEAI, the administration and business process centre and it's surveyors and quality team. These together work with contractors to deliver the energy upgrades.
The number of SEAI staff allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme for the past five years is set out in the Table below.
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
|
SEAI Staff |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
7* |
|
Customer & Administration |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4 |
4.5 |
6 |
|
Surveying, BER, Inspection, Processes |
41 |
43 |
50 |
60 |
92 |
|
49.5 |
51.5 |
59 |
71.5 |
105 |
*SEAI expects another direct role to be filled shortly.
