Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way a community group can apply to Sustainable Energy Ireland to register its interest in taking part in the warmer homes scheme; the number and location of community based organisations currently involved in the scheme; the way the scheme is administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7550/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) provides funding to Community Based Organisations for the installation of energy efficiency measures including cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, boiler lagging jackets, draught proofing measures and energy efficient lighting in low income dwellings in their respective geographic areas. Advice is also provided to householders on minimising energy use. The WHS provides these measures free or at a nominal cost to the householder. In the last number of years over 20,000 homes have been substantially upgraded by the WHS. In 2009, some €20 million has been made available to the scheme. This greatly increased level of funding is expected to support energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homes this year.

As shown in the following table, there are 21 community based organisations, currently delivering the WHS, which represents coverage of just over two-thirds of the country. Under an initiative to extend the scheme nationwide in 2009, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) plans to commence the introduction of additional community based organisations to the scheme from the end of March 2009. In the interim, SEI is accepting contact details for householders outside of existing coverage and will notify applicants as the scheme becomes available in their area.

A call for proposals by additional community based organisations is expected at the end of March 2009 and will be published on the SEI website at www.sei.ie/warmerhomes. Expressions of interest can be emailed to warmerhomes@sei.ie. The expression of interest should contain the contact details of the organisation, the proposed area of coverage, the number of staff and the source of the staff places such as Pobail, or FÁS. A full list of existing providers and the areas covered is outlined in the following table: