Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 961: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action taken to improve the efficiency of public housing and assist persons on low incomes to avoid fuel poverty as agreed in the programme for Government. [26920/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Low Income Housing Programme administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) was established to address one of the root causes of fuel poverty, which is the legacy of older housing with poor energy efficiency standards. The Programme's primary focus is its Warmer Homes Scheme which provides attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, energy efficient lighting, cavity wall insulation and energy advice at little or no cost to eligible households.

The Warmer Homes Scheme is open to low income households. Local Authority houses are addressed separately. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government provides separate funding through the Central Heating Scheme to local authorities to upgrade the heating and energy performance standards of public housing. €26 million has been provided for the scheme this year which it is estimated will benefit up to 5,000 Local Authority Households. I have also doubled the budget for the Low Income Housing Programme to €5 million in 2008 and this will enable SEI to fund insulation upgrades for 5,000 vulnerable households this year.

I launched the pilot Home Energy Saving Scheme in April last which is designed to incentivise improvements in energy efficiency with particular focus on older housing stock. Further decisions about timing and funding of roll-out of a national scheme will be informed by the results of the pilot scheme and having regard to overall budgetary considerations.

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme was introduced by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government last year and provides targeted support of up to one hundred percent of cost to improve a range of conditions in the existing housing of older people. These include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, the provision of water, sanitary services, heating, repairs to or replacement of windows, provision of central heating and associated insulation works.