Delays in the surveying of homes for the Warmer Homes Scheme is concerning during the current cold snap and measures to speed up assessments are required.
This is the view of Fine Gael senator, Séan Kyne, who was commenting on the surveying being carried out by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
The Warmer Homes Scheme provides support for attic, internal and external wall insulation, draught proofing, window replacement, and other energy efficiency measures for built before 2006, where the occupants are in receipt of the Carer’s Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Fuel Allowance which includes a high number of older people. The Government has already increased the weekly Fuel Allowance rate to €28.
Extra resources demanded by cold snap
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Since its introduction, there has been high demand for the Warmer Homes Scheme resulting in a timeframe of 18 to 24 months from initial application to completion of works. However, the Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated the delays. "I’ve been contacted by homeowners who applied in 2019 but still have not had their homes surveyed," said Sen Kyne.
The Government has allocated €100 million in extra funding from the Carbon Tax proceeds for retrofit schemes. However Sen Kyne said the Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, needs to examine measures to speed up assessments under the scheme.
“With cold weather and its impact on health and wellbeing," he said, "it’s vital the welcome extra funding is matched with the resources to increase capacity at SEAI and reduce the waiting times for these important retrofit works to a minimum."
