Written answers

Tuesday, 24 April 2007

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Housing Grants

11:00 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there are grants or other assistance available to householders who wish to install insulation and heat conversation mechanisms in their dwelling houses; if he will outline same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14335/07]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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TheGreener 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 in March last year. 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 m2. 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 that 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 under way 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).

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