Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
95. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he will take to reduce the current waiting time for applications under the warmer homes scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the current backlogs of up to 18 months from time of application to being appointed to a contractor by the SEAI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16995/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. The Warmer Homes Scheme budget allocation for 2020 is €52.8 million - a record level of funding for this scheme.
Although the budget for the scheme has been significantly increased in recent times, the current very high level of demand does directly impact waiting times with the duration between applying for the scheme and having works carried out currently averaging at 18 months. This is partly due to changes to the scheme introduced in June 2018 which expanded and enhanced the range of energy efficiency measures available to include ‘deeper measures’ as well as an extension of the eligibility rules. These ‘deeper measures’ include internal and external insulation which are both more expensive and take longer to install. Wait times will also be negatively impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions which meant that Warmer Homes Scheme works were paused for a time. I am happy to report that these works have recommenced in recent weeks for homes that are categorised as lower risk, subject to homeowner consent. SEAI provided guidance for such activity, informed by the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business and the Return to Work Safely Protocol. This guidance is available at www.seai.ie/covid-19-notice/.
The Climate Action Plan commits to reviewing ways to better target current energy poverty schemes, such as the Warmer Homes Scheme, to those most in need, including how to reduce waiting times. Recommendations in relation to the implementation of changes to the scheme will be finalised shortly.
More generally the Programme for Government commits to assigning some of the increased carbon tax receipts over the next decade to the establishment of a €5 billion fund for a socially progressive national retrofitting programme targeting all homes but with a particular emphasis on the Midlands region and on social and low-income tenancies.
