98. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current average waiting time from application to survey under the SEAI warmer homes scheme; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and whether any priority arrangements exist for households experiencing significant dampness or mould. [64253/26]

The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax revenues and the European Regional Development Fund.

The Warmer Homes Scheme is available to owner-occupied properties, based on the householder being in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection (DSP) income supports. The scheme targets support to those on the lowest incomes who are living in the least efficient homes so that the resources available can have the greatest impact in addressing energy poverty.

The current average waiting time from application to survey completed under the SEAI Warmer Homes Scheme is 13 months in the first half of 2026. The breakdown of average waiting times under the scheme were as follows:

• Application to Pre-BER Published - 8 months

• Application to Survey Completed – 13 months

• Application to Contractor Allocation - 15 months

• Application to Works Completed - 23 months

This represents a decrease from an average waiting time of 26 months for homes completed in 2022. In parallel with this decrease in the average waiting time, the number of homes upgraded in a year has almost doubled over the same period, increasing from over 4,200 in 2022 to over 8,100 in 2025.

The SEAI publish indicative wait times on their website for each stage of the process. This is available here: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/fully-funded-upgrades-for-certain-homeowners.The reduction in waiting times and increase in number of homes upgraded follows a range of measures introduced by my Department and the SEAI. These include:

• the allocation of additional staff to the Warmer Homes Scheme;

• a significantly increased budget allocation;

• active contract engagement and management by the SEAI to increase contractor output; and

• actions to address ongoing supply chain pressures.

The SEAI has established a new €1.2 billion contractor panel this year. This will support continued growth with a focus on scale, quality and output under the scheme.

The SEAI has also developed a Waiting List Action Plan with the objective of reducing the number of clients waiting for an upgrade, ensuring prioritisation of the worst performing homes, and improving efficiencies across the scheme.

To help maximise delivery and continue to improve waiting times, Budget 2026 provided record funding of €340 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme, with a target of 11,500 fully funded home upgrades for 2026.

As of February 2022, following a Government decision to improve targeting of the scheme towards the worst performing properties, homes built and occupied before January 1993 and that have a pre-works BER of E, F or G are prioritised for works. This is the only prioritisation that takes place under the scheme.