Retrofit grants process for Kilkenny homes 'taking too long'

Local Councillor Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere has called on the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to reduce the time period between individual grant applications and works being approved.

Cllr Cleere maintains that while government is encouraging home owners to upgrade their homes in terms of retrofits and insulation works, the reality is that it is taking way too long.

“The reality is that many people, especially senior citizens, are waiting 18 months up to two years before any works can be done.

“Over the last number of months I have spoken to and helped dozens of people who have applied for a grant towards the retrofit or insulation of their home. While their application is processed relatively quickly, it can take up to a year for a registered BER assessor to call and a further year before a contractor is approved.”

Cllr Cleere said that this time period is way too long. He has written to the SEAI requesting a faster processing of the administration.

He said that “the truth is that many of these applications for grants are from senior citizens and those that are the most vulnerable in our society. Most of these houses are very old houses that require a lot of upgrade to increase their energy efficiency.

“What is the point of promoting these grants and encouraging home owners to apply if there is no clarity on how long they will be waiting? There has to be a more efficient way of streamlining and prioritising applications particularly for elderly people who cannot wait years to have works done.”