Written answer
Energy Conservation
Waiting times averaged 15 months to contractor allocation and 23 months to completion; a €1.2 billion contractor panel and action plan aim to accelerate upgrades.
29. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being taken to reduce waiting times under the warmer homes scheme; the target waiting time for applicants by the end of 2026 and 2027; and whether additional delivery capacity will be put in place to ensure increased funding results in a corresponding increase in completed home energy upgrades. [65127/26]
Comment on this
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 the Department and is funded through the carbon tax revenues and the European Regional Development Fund.
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. Over 8,100 homes were upgraded last year, 109% of the annual target.
Over 6,800 upgrades were completed under the scheme to end August 2026, an increase of 38% on the same period last year. For the first half of the year the average waiting time from application to contractor allocation under the scheme was 15 months. The overall waiting time from application to works completed was 23 months.
A range of measures have been introduced by my Department and the SEAI to reduce overall waiting times including the establishment of a new €1.2 billion contractor panel this year with additional contractors. 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.