A COUNCILLOR has called for BER (Building Energy Rating) assessors to be allowed to tender for the Warmer Homes Scheme because some elderly people are waiting over two years to get their homes insulated and retro-fitted.

Cllr Ben Dalton O’Sullivan (Ind) raised a motion at a recent meeting of the local authority and said the scheme, which is fully funded by the EU, provides free installation and retro-fitting of homes for people who meet certain criteria, particularly elderly people who may need their homes insulated and upgraded.

‘It has worked very well in the past but there’s a two-year waiting list in place with some even waiting two and a half years to get the work done,’ said Cllr O’Sullivan.

‘We have people applying in their late 80s to get their houses done and it’s taking far too long for the process to begin.’

He pointed out that there are five stages in the scheme with the first stage being the BER assessment, which is taking 12 months.

‘There is a full nationwide national registrar of BER assessors and it boggles me why they can’t just tender them out in different areas. Some BER assessors would be only too delighted to get 20 or 30 jobs to be assessed.’

However, he said this initial process is taking 12 months and he said these BER assessors could tender for the jobs and help clear the backlog.

‘It’s taking two years and the Government really need to step up here especially in a climate crisis. Retro-fitting is a very positive step in combating this,’ he added.

Cllr Danny Collins (Ind Ire) seconded the motion and said this issue has been going on years well before COVID. He asked why can’t the scheme be operated similar to the Cork County Council grant scheme. Cllr Gearoid Murphy (FF) said it is very timely to draw attention to this as he is aware of issues with the scheme in his area.

Cllr Deirdre O’Brien (FF) said that instead of encouraging the conservation of energy, they seem to be ‘dragging their legs on it’ and called on the Government to improve the scheme.

County Mayor Cllr Mary Linehan Foley (Ind) supported the motion also and said they would write to the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Minister for State for Older People to ask what measures are being put in place to expedite the scheme.

Cllr O’Sullivan said it would be important to emphasise in any correspondence about the BER assessors.

‘It’s the first stage and even that is taking 12 months. I’ve spoken to a few and they would love if SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) would allow them to go and tender for the work.’