Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am reviewing all the schemes. There is an opportunity when a new Minister comes in to look at what is working and what can be improved. I would like to see us accelerate the transition from solid fuel but we should not rubbish the existing schemes. From 2020 alone, what Ireland is investing in this area is unprecedented - €1.1 billion and 162,000 home energy upgrades, which I mentioned already, and almost 230,000 grant support applications received by the SEAI. I will look in particular at our more senior citizens in energy poverty, which I mentioned in an earlier response to another Deputy. I want to look at how the categorisation works and how it can work. I am not content with an average waiting period of 18 months, which I said. I think it is fair enough to say that. We need skills in this sector too and we need to pay for it. I am happy to take constructive views on board. I note the alternative fairer plan to which the Deputy referred. I could not see how that would be paid for in order to expand it. I will look at these schemes and take Deputies' views on board. I am engaging with the SEAI around the criteria and how the processing time can be improved for these grants, particularly the warmer homes grants.

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