50. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps that are being taken to reduce the applications backlog in the warmer homes scheme. [65851/26]

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 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.