Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures in place to encourage households to have greener homes; the grants available for improved energy efficient homes and the installation of renewable technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13883/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Greener Homes Scheme is providing support to homeowners to invest in a range of renewable energy heating technologies including solar technology, wood biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps. Funding of €47m has been provided for the scheme. There have been almost 14,000 applications received since the scheme was launched. Grant aid of €1,100 to €6,500 is being provided under the scheme, depending on the individual technology used. The grant for solar panels is €300 per m 2. The scheme is being administered on behalf of my Department by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and all applications are being processed through SEI. Details and application forms are available on the SEI website (www.sei.ie/greenerhomes), and a dedicated low-call phone line is also open.

Funding is also provided, through SEI, under the Warmer Homes Scheme which provides insulation and other energy efficiency measures to low income homes across Ireland. Eligible householders are typically in receipt of the Fuel Allowance, Invalidity or Disability Benefit. The service is delivered principally through community based organisations that typically secure the labour through a FÁS or Rural Social Scheme. SEI provides funding towards materials and overheads for the operation of the service, which is provided at little or no cost to the homeowner.

The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) provides the following services to eligible households: Draught proofing, Attic insulation, Lagging jacket, Low energy light bulbs, Cavity wall insulation, where appropriate. Since the start of the scheme in 2000 almost 13,000 low income households have benefited. Currently there are 18 such service providers approved for funding in the in the scheme with two each in counties Dublin, Donegal, Roscommon, Cork and Mayo, and one each in counties Cavan, Kerry, Leitrim, Galway, Westmeath, Limerick, Clare and Wexford.

The Warmer Homes Scheme is adding further capacity through two different initiatives. The first is a pilot which took place in Dundalk and has addressed 161 homes to date with private contractors with substantial insulation measures. The final phase is currently under way at the moment. Dundalk was an area which was not covered by a community based organisation and the insulation services were provided by two contractors appointed following a tender process.

The second initiative resulted from a Budget allocation of €2M, by my colleague the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, which allowed the expansion of the service through delivery by the private sector of a whole house approach, to addressing fuel poverty The range of services included under this new initiative includes the installation of high efficiency central heating as well as substantial insulation measures. This initiative is currently underway in Waterford City and County in approximately 400 eligible homes.

SEI's House of Tomorrow Programme provides funding to developers of groups of housing, where the housing units have energy efficient features that significantly exceed current building regulations. 1,187 new social housing dwellings, 3,198 new private dwellings and 365 social housing refurbishments have been completed to date under this programme. The range of renewable technologies installed include: Condensing oil and gas boilers (2922), Solar water heating (1634 homes,Heat recovery ventilation (2,065 homes), Ground source heat pumps (731 homes), Wood pellet boilers (724 homes).

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the funding provided to Energy Action; if his attention has been drawn to a long waiting list for these services; and if he will substantially increase the funding for 2007. [13983/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Under the current funding agreement, for the period October 2006 to October 2007, up to €312,138 is available to Energy Action to substantially address up to 600 low income households with energy efficiency measures. The measures provided include: Draught proofing, Attic insulation, Hot water cylinder Jackets, Low energy light-bulbs, Energy Advice. A further €25,000 capital grant was provided to Energy Action for the purchase of two vehicles for the services crews in February 2007.

Since the start of the scheme in 2000 almost 13,000 low income households have benefited. Approximately 69% of the households were located in Dublin or the surrounding areas and were serviced by the two Dublin based community organisations, Energy Action and CHIP (based in Clondalkin).

The Warmer Homes Scheme is adding further capacity through two different initiatives. The first is a pilot which took place in Dundalk and has addressed 161 homes to date with private contractors with substantial insulation measures. The final phase is currently under w ay. Dundalk was an area which was not covered by a community based organisation and the insulation services were provided by two contractors appointed following a tender process. The second initiative resulted from a Budget allocation of €2M which allowed the expansion of the service through delivery by the private sector of a whole house approach, to addressing fuel poverty. The range of services included under this new initiative includes the installation of high efficiency central heating as well as s substantial insulation measures. This initiative is currently underway in Waterford City and County in approximately 400 eligible homes.

The current Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) delivery is through community based organisations (CBOs). The CBOs receive funding from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) as well as core funding from FÁS through Community Employment or other programmes, or through the Rural Social Scheme.

The Energy Policy White Paper 'Delivering A Sustainable Energy Future For Ireland' sets out 13 specific actions in relation to addressing fuel poverty. The two key actions relating to the Warmer Homes Scheme represent an ongoing commitment to the Warmer Homes Scheme with an increase in both the capacity and the range of services available. Specifically we have committed to finalising a framework for significant extension of the Low Income Housing Schemes which will accelerate the pace of remedial actions and to building on the results of the €2 million Waterford Fuel Poverty Research Project being undertaken by SEI.