Motion passed to pressure Environment Minister to tackle home energy affordability

Councillors from the Donegal Municipal District passed a motion calling on Minister Darragh O’Brien to “urgently address the growing affordability gap in home energy construction costs.”

The motion was proposed by the Independent Councillor, Jimmy Brogan, and seconded by Fine Gael’s Cllr Michael Boyle at April’s meeting of the Donegal MD meeting. 

Cllr Brogan’s motion stated: “That the Donegal Municipal District contact the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications calling on him to urgently address the growing affordability gap in home energy construction costs.”

Among the four demands of the motion were to: “Review and expand eligibility criteria across Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) supports, including the Warmer Homes Scheme, to ensure that low and middle-income households who do not qualify for fully funded supports can still access meaningful assistance; 

“Reduce delivery timelines under the Warmer Homes Scheme and other retrofit programmes, noting current waiting periods of up to 18-24 months;

“Introduce measures to support homes requiring remedial works, which are currently excluded from upgrade schemes, but are often those most in need of intervention;

“Report back to local authorities within six months with a clear plan to improve affordability, access and delivery timelines across all residential retrofit schemes.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Brogan said: “The SEAI schemes have been running for a number of years and have been very successful. It is a great help.

“The biggest problem of the Warmer Home Scheme is the length of time it takes. People like to move on from solid fuel in houses. That is not a lifestyle choice. That is the one option people in Donegal have and it is a move cost. 

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“While the Government focus on climate targets, they have failed to deliver ith the money and time needed for people to bring it up to scratch. As a Municipal District, we need to help people to get it working a bit faster.”

Cllr Boyle commented: “There is a lot of people looking at these schemes, but the length it has taken is too long.”

A detailed official response was signed off by Con McLaughlin, Senior Engineer Project Manager for Donegal County Council, and was prepared by the North West Energy Agency, which was established by Donegal County Council to support homeowners, businesses and communities to implement energy efficiency improvements throughout Donegal.

The response stated: “Additional supports to those deemed ‘fuel poor’ are expected in the coming weeks. The fuel poor classification typically extends to those receiving fuel allowance or other state benefits.”

There was also commentary regarding the Warmer Homes Scheme, Home Energy Upgrades and National One Stop Shop/Project Coordinators.

It was stated: “SEAI have accepted that homeowners can suffer long delays awaiting works under the Warmer Homes Scheme. SEAI are currently managing this programme under a triage system and aims to deliver works to the properties with the poorest energy efficiency first.

“Consequently, some properties may sit for a long time awaiting works delivery.

“In an attempt to reduce the delays, SEAI have developed an Area-Based Community Energy Grant Scheme which allows homeowners access the grants using a Project Coordinator if they are in a position to fund a portion of the works themselves.

“It is anticipated that there would be additional grant support available to those homeowners deemed ‘fuel poor’ and receiving fuel allowance or other state benefits, and these additional supports are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.”