Concerns raised over delays in energy retrofitting homes in Sligo

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

This month's meeting of Sligo County Council heard calls for the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien TD and the SEAI to put more resources in place for applicants who are having to wait as long as 22 months for retrofits to be completed under the Government's warmer homes scheme.

Cllr Dara Mulvey’s motion called for “Sligo County Council to write to Minister O’Brien to ask what can be done about the speed of energy retrofitting homes under the warmer home scheme and calls that the SEAI needs to act on the timelines surrounding retrofitting when applying for the grant especially for our elderly and most vulnerable.”

The warmer homes scheme provides free energy upgrades for households which are entitled to certain social welfare payments, such as the fuel allowance or domiciliary care allowance.

Cllr Mulvey explained there are concerns the wait period could become even worse due to a potential increase in the level of applications for the scheme as more people qualify for key social welfare payments which underpin the retrofitting programme.

“Recent figures show the average waiting times for the scheme in 2025, from application to works being carried out, is now at 21 months for the worse-rated houses and 22 for better-rated homes.

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) said it is taking approximately 14 months for an applicant to get their home surveyed. It said it then takes another 10 to 12 months before works are carried out and completed. The SEAI needs to put more resources in place and cut back on the red tape involved and to examine why so many more retrofit companies are not seeking to get involved with SEAI in this scheme,” stated Cllr Mulvey.

The motion was supported by Cllr Michael Clarke who remarked, “It needs to be rolled out more easily and faster.”

Cllr Gerard Mullaney also voiced his concerns when he said, “The scheme is hugely oversubscribed. It's a resources issue and a lack of contractors, it needs to be tackled. Anyone that qualifies is entitled to get it done in a calendar year.”

Cllr Paul Taylor elaborated further on that point when he said, “It is a great scheme. The delays aren't everywhere, it depends how many Councillors are servicing that area. I am aware of cases where the work was completed within six months.”

Cllr Donal Gilroy also highlighted the difficulties faced by contractors when he said, “I found a lot of contractors don’t want to work for the SEAI, they were paid quicker working for builders. There is a lot of red tape, that's why I don't work in it, I couldn’t afford to wait.”

Cllr Mulvey brought the debate to a close when he said, “This is an emergency situation. Red tape has to be reduced. The general public and vulnerable people are suffering.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.