Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
159. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to review and address correspondence (details supplied) concerning operational inefficiencies in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's management of the support scheme for renewable heat, particularly the substantial delays in budget deployment and payment cycles for clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51637/23]
View answerThe Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) has, to date, provided offers to over 100 businesses to support the conversion to renewable heating. These offers combine to over €40m of support in both tariffs and grants. 37 of these projects have been completed and are in receipt of regular tariff payments or of grant payments. Another 12 projects, which have recently applied for payment, are at various stages of evaluation or inspection prior to being passed for regular tariff payments or grant payments.
The SSRH application process – from application to letter of offer – is routinely completed within an 8-week window. While delays may occur due to incomplete applications or missing information, when any issue is identified the SEAI addresses it with the applicant to attempt to correct it in a timely manner. A complete application will ensure swift review and approval by SEAI. The SSRH payment cycle process – from application for payment to payment issued – can also be completed within a short window of time.
Strong governance of the SSRH is necessary to ensure robust compliance within the scheme and with a range of wider requirements, which include compliance with planning, licencing, building control, and fire safety certification. If the application or any of the relevant documentation is incomplete, missing or delayed, payments will not be processed.
While the onus is on the applicant and their designer/installer to meet their legal compliance requirements to be funded under the SSRH, the SEAI continues to work with the biomass supply chain to support them in addressing these issues.
