Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the cost of increasing the number of homes dealt with under the Sustainable Energy Ireland warmer homes scheme form 2,000 to 10,000 homes per annum. [37272/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Warmer Homes Scheme, which is part of Sustainable Energy Ireland's Low Income Housing Programme, aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of homes occupied by low-income households. The scheme provides funding to community-based organisations for the installation of energy efficiency measures including attic insulation (in some areas, and where technically appropriate), in homes in their respective localities. The scheme is intended to benefit those who need it most and the eligibility criteria varies from region to region, depending on the target group of the community organisation in question.

There are 15 community based organisations that area approved for funding to complete homes in 2006. The service available in Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Westmeath, Roscommon, Cork, Kerry, Wexford, Cavan, Limerick and Leitrim. The cost of increasing the number of homes from 2,000 to 10,000 homes per year would be a combination of continuing the current funding to community based organisations and to build capacity by engaging building contractors. The current Low Income Programme Budget is €1.7 million. The cost of increasing the number of homes to 10,000 per annum is €8.45 million.