Departmental Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (61, 62, 63)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

61. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons on the warmer homes scheme waiting list, broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39708/22]

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

62. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average waiting time for retrofitting to be completed under the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39709/22]

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes completed under the warmer homes scheme in each of the past five years per county in tabular form. [39710/22]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 62 and 63 together.

The 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.

Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and reducing the waiting times on the Warmer Homes Scheme waiting list is a top priority for my Department and SEAI. 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.

Data provided to my Department by the SEAI indicates that, for homes completed in 2022, the average cycle time from application to completion was 28 months. However, it is important to note that cycle times have been affected by COVID related issues. In addition, there are deeper measures being provided under the Scheme since 2018, which involve more substantive works.

Details of the number of homes awaiting works, as at the end of June, on the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme work programme is set out in the table below. 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. It is important to note that the SEAI received over 5,000 applications for the scheme to the end of June this year, compared with 2,874 for the whole of 2021. The improvements to this top priority Scheme introduced by Government and the increased public awareness following the launch of the new SEAI National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme together with the potential to reduce energy costs are driving demand and SEAI is ramping up delivery in response.

County	No. of Homes
Carlow	114
Cavan	95
Clare	193
Cork	1,014
Donegal	360
Dublin	2,697
Galway	535
Kerry	299
Kildare	355
Kilkenny	130
Laois	148
Leitrim	78
Limerick	348
Longford	70
Louth	187
Mayo	507
Meath	340
Monaghan	116
Offaly	197
Roscommon	173
Sligo	172
Tipperary	392
Waterford	206
Westmeath	170
Wexford	345
Wicklow	376
Total	9,617

The number of homes completed, by county, in the past five years is set out in the Table below.

Homes Completed
County	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022*
Carlow	63	67	11	25	14
Cavan	173	44	22	35	37
Clare	147	68	22	40	19
Cork	504	223	142	153	159
Donegal	587	162	87	116	87
Dublin	829	649	500	693	688
Galway	242	172	86	80	58
Kerry	329	84	55	53	74
Kildare	167	103	40	90	55
Kilkenny	73	59	20	37	17
Laois	95	63	11	21	5
Leitrim	58	41	17	23	31
Limerick	160	121	16	49	62
Longford	72	37	13	21	22
Louth	139	115	26	61	42
Mayo	214	195	68	64	64
Meath	124	90	60	81	80
Monaghan	100	42	14	24	21
Offaly	90	51	42	30	37
Roscommon	116	56	33	43	31
Sligo	105	59	27	35	22
Tipperary	144	84	22	49	43
Waterford	117	179	42	84	55
Westmeath	140	78	39	52	63
Wexford	317	178	74	110	58
Wicklow	113	118	31	55	45
Total	5,218	3,138	1,520	2,124	1,889

*to end of June 2022

Question No. 62 answered with Question No. 61.

Question No. 63 answered with Question No. 61.