Two year waiting list for the Warmer Home Scheme in Leitrim

There is a two year waiting list for the Warmer Home Scheme in Leitrim, it was revealed at a recent meeting where a councillor asked for an update on the scheme. 

An update on the waiting list for the upgrades to homes through the warmer homes scheme was called for by Cllr Ita Reynolds-Flynn.

In April, minister for the environment, Darragh O’Brien, said that new applicants for the scheme “may face longer waiting times” due to the high number of applications for the scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). 

Cllr Reynolds-Flynn said the waiting list is currently two years and asked if "that could be looked at? It seems like a very long time for people to be waiting."

The scheme covers these home energy upgrades such as attic insulation, wall insulation - including cavity wall, internal wall and external wall insulation, draught-proofing and energy efficient lighting. 

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To qualify for the scheme, an applicant must satisfy a number of conditions including owning their home and living in it and being in receipt of social welfare payments including fuel allowance, working family payment, jobseeker’s allowance for over six months and have a child aged under seven, disability allowance for over six months and have a child aged under seven, domiciliary care allowance, one parent family payment, carer’s allowance and you must live with the person you care for.

Cllr Reynolds-Flynn continued that it was "very disappointing and applicants don't seem to get a reply for about six or seven months."

She proposed that a letter be sent to SEAI with regard to the waiting list and this was seconded by Cllr Gary Prior.

SEAI no longer installs new oil or gas boilers and any homes surveyed from 1 January 2025 will not be eligible for a gas or oil boiler heating recommendation, it was pointed out.

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Cllr Brendan Barry said that with "grants not being available for new boilers and people wanting to make their homes more energy efficient but having to wait three years just seems crazy. Everything should be done to help people heat their homes as efficiently, as soon as possible."