Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the schemes available to householders for insulation of houses; the way they avail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10351/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Together with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I recently launched the National Insulation Programme for Economic Recovery. The three-pronged Programme underpins the Government's commitment to improve the energy efficiency of our housing stock whilst reducing our carbon emissions and creating employment in the energy services sector.

The Home Energy Saving (HES) Scheme is the largest element of the Programme with a budget of €50 million in 2009. This scheme has the potential to support the upgrade of in excess of 27,500 homes in 2009. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimates that demand for this scheme could ultimately exceed 100,000 homes.

Homeowners can expect to save up to €700 per year on their energy bills if they install the full suite of measures available under the scheme. The scheme offers grants of up to 40% of the typical cost of energy efficiency upgrade measures, varying depending on the measure concerned. A list of eligible measures and fixed grant rates is set out in the following table.

The scheme is open to anybody owning a house that was built prior to 2006. Homeowners and landlords will be able to apply under the scheme later this month. In the meantime, homeowners can register their interest with SEI or at hes@sei.ie. Homeowners may arrange to have a building energy rating carried out immediately, if they wish, but this is not a requirement for participation in the scheme. However, homeowners should not undertake work until they have received grant approval from SEI.

The National Insulation Programme for Economic Recovery will also greatly assist those on low incomes or in social housing. The second element of the Programme, the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS), is designed to assist private households on low incomes, such as those in receipt of Fuel Allowance, Invalidity or Disability Benefit. The scheme provides for the installation of a range of energy efficiency measures, including cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, boiler lagging jackets, draught proofing measures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Advice is also provided to householders on minimising energy use. The WHS provides these measures free or at a nominal cost to the householder.

Some €20 million has been made available to the WHS in 2009. This greatly increased level of funding is expected to support energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homes in this year alone. There are 21 community based organisations (CBOs) currently delivering the WHS which represents just over two-thirds of the country. Under our initiative to extend the scheme nationwide in 2009, SEI plans to commence the introduction of new CBOs to the scheme from the end of March 2009.

A number of improvements to the WHS have been introduced over the past few months, including a new free-phone service designed to assist eligible homeowners in identifying their nearest provider. If outside of current coverage, their details are be recorded and notified as soon as the service becomes available in their area. In addition, a new website — www.wellandwarm.ie — has been launched, which allows homeowners, neighbours and relatives to find out more information about the WHS and a range of other measures that are available to those most in need. A complementary information booklet — Keep Well and Warm — has also been published this month and will be widely disseminated.

Further information on the WHS is available by calling 1800-250204, by emailing warmerhomes@sei.ie or at www.sei.ie/Grants/Warmer_Homes_Scheme.

The third element of the National Insulation Programme for Economic Recovery will involve providing similar energy efficiency upgrade measures in social housing. Improving the energy efficiency of local authority housing is a key objective for the Government, and to that end, a fund of some €50m has been set aside in 2009 to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive energy efficiency programme. This programme will include a number of elements including support for the first round of Towards Carbon Neutral and insulation retrofitting projects. In addition, the funding will be used to assist local authorities in improving the energy rating of dwellings due to be re-let during the year and to advance the overall energy efficiency in apartment complexes. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will be making further announcements on this element of the programme in due course.