Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a form of grant system is available to assist residents to improve the energy retention of their homes particularly by way of insulation or exulation of building materials, that is, breeze blocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7820/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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There are no specific grants available from my Department or local authorities for energy retention improvements to homes. However, Sustainable Energy Ireland, under the auspices of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, operates a Low Income Housing Programme. This was set up to help establish and implement a national plan of action to address the problem of fuel poverty. Core delivery is through the Warmer Homes Scheme. This programme aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of homes occupied by low-income households and at establishing the systems and growing the capacity in Ireland to install such measures which include attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, energy efficient lighting, cavity wall insulation and energy advice.

My own Department operates a number of targeted options to assist vulnerable groups, such as lower income households and elderly persons, to secure necessary improvement works to their homes. These include the local authority house improvement loan scheme, the disabled persons and essential repairs grant scheme, the improvement works in lieu of local authority housing scheme and a Central Heating Programme, all administered by local authorities, and the Task Force on Special Housing Aid for the Elderly which is administered by the Health Services Executive.

The Essential Repairs Grant and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Grant Scheme have been reviewed recently and will be replaced by the Scheme of Housing Aid for Older People, to be administered by local authorities, during 2007.

My Department also financially assists local authorities in upgrading, renovating and re-developing their housing stock through the Remedial Works Scheme and funding for regeneration and redevelopment projects. Works under the Remedial Works Scheme must comply with Building Regulations and where an extensive programme of refurbishment is carried out, measures are taken to improve thermal insulation in accordance with Building Regulations.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are grants available for persons in private dwellings to assist with replacing their existing septic tank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7839/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Grants are not available from my Department to individual householders for the replacement of septic tanks. However, under the Rural Water Programme, grants of €2,031 per house are available from county councils to groups of householders who provide common sewerage facilities in cases where existing facilities are deficient and giving rise to pollution.