90. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the SEAI will inspect properties worked on under the warmer homes scheme, where a homeowner contacts them to complain regarding the work completed. [66425/26]

The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) 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 carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund.

The day-to-day management of the grant schemes, including the quality assurance of individual registered contractors under the WHS, are operational matters for the SEAI.

The SEAI operate a quality assurance programme to ensure the maintenance of high standards of contractor workmanship, build consumer confidence, monitor health and safety, and ensure proper governance of the spending of public money.

Contractors operating under any relevant SEAI scheme, including the WHS, must carry out the works in line with the SEAI’s Contractor Code of Practice and Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications, as well as best practice and technical guidance documents including:

• NSAI S.R. 54:2014 - Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings;

• Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents;

• The System Supplier/Product Manufacturer Guidelines;

• Irish Agrément Certificates; and

• Irish, British or European Standards Guides.

In addition, regular inspections of works are undertaken by the SEAI on a risk-based approach in accordance with international best practice. The SEAI deals with all complaints received and this also informs the risk-based approach to inspections. When sub-standard works are found, contractors are required to rectify the works to the satisfaction of the inspector, at no cost to the homeowner.

The SEAI operate under a Customer Charter and a complaints and appeals procedure is in place. If, after following this procedure, an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome, they can ask the Office of the Ombudsman for an independent review of the complaint. Further details are available here: www.seai.ie/customer-charter.