Energy Conservation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022

Thursday, 10 February 2022

Ceisteanna (214)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

214. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applicants for home energy grants administered by the SEAI in each of the years 2019 to 2021; the number of those applications that resulted in grant payments being made to the applicant as distinct from the applications being initially approved in each of the years 2019 to 2021; and the percentage of the overall budget allocated to the SEAI for administering home energy grants used in each of the years 2019 to 2021. [7317/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are collating the specific detailed data sought by the Deputy but it was not ready in the time available, it will be communicated as soon as it is available.

The following table sets out the overall level of applications and completions in respect of each of the last three years.

Years	2019	2020	2021
No. of Applications for home energy grants	36,624	20,494	21,392
No. of Completions	24,742	17,616	15,457
Expenditure	€104.1m	€78.25m	€101.3m

While a cohort of staff within SEAI are involved in a range of administrative functions that support schemes, the agency is also assisted by a service provider that provides the front-end customer service.

SEAI are enhancing their staffing levels this year consistent with the scaling up of capacity to support the significant policy developments announced recently. Up to 50 additional staff are likely to be employed by the agency by the end of the year bring staff levels close to 190.