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

The warmer homes scheme is important because it focuses on lower incomes families. I am looking at this issue. For context, the average value of upgrades in 2015 was just €2,600. In 2024, the most recent year for which I have full annualised data, it was €27,700. Deeper upgrades mean more lower income homeowners can benefit to a greater extent from the scheme and the upgrades can tackle energy poverty by reducing their bills. Having said that, we need to look again at how we report those waiting times, particularly for the initial assessment. I am looking at this matter and have asked officials to look at it as well. There is a lead time to get a BER cert before an applicant can even get into the process. The waiting times are calculated from the very beginning of the application process to the completion of the works, whereas for the croí conaithe grant scheme, it is based on the application having come through the local authority and been processed and completed. I cannot control how long it takes a contractor to get out there. What we can do relates to the assessment, and I am looking at options in that regard. Private assessors and all of those types of things are on the table.

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