Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the home energy saving scheme started; the amount of funding available for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10432/09]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he plans to include the upgrading of windows in the home energy saving scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10437/09]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made with regard to the home installation programme; the way the scheme will be rolled out; when the scheme will come into place in order that works are actually carried out; the number of households that have applied for the scheme to date; if an agency or agencies has been established to administer the scheme; the budget that has been set aside for this scheme in 2009; the cost implications to applicants who avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10165/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in relation to the home energy scheme that was announced recently, the applications are available; and the way people can make an application for this scheme. [10578/09]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 14, 38 and 210 together.

On 8 February, together with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Minister launched the Home Energy Saving Scheme, one of three priority home insulation schemes in the Government's National Insulation Programme for Economic Recovery.

The Home Energy Saving Scheme has an allocation of €50 million for 2009. The scheme provides grant assistance to homeowners for attic and wall insulation, efficient boilers and heating controls. Grant rates average 30% of the cost of works, although these rates vary depending on the measure concerned. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) advised on the measures for inclusion in the scheme and they will also administer the scheme. SEI has built up a considerable expertise on residential energy efficiency matters and oversaw the pilot phase of the scheme last year.

The selected measures are deemed to be those most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners at the least cost. There are other measures, such as windows, which are not currently included in the scheme. These may also improve the energy performance of a home but may not be as cost effective for the homeowner. The Department and SEI will be keeping the scheme under review. If there is a strong cost-benefit case for adding other measures to the scheme, it will be given every consideration.

Homeowners will be able to formally apply under the Scheme from later this month. In the meantime, they can register their interest with SEI. Homeowners may also arrange to have a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment carried out immediately. While a grant of €200 is available for this, it is not a requirement for participation in the Home Energy Saving Scheme.

While homeowners can of course proceed with the BER assessment now, they should not undertake any remedial works until they have received formal grant approval from SEI. Work underway or completed will not be eligible for grant assistance.

Prior to opening the scheme to householder applications, SEI is registering installers and contractors intending to carry out insulation and other works under the scheme. Householders will be obliged to identify their chosen contractor in their application and all such contractors must be registered with SEI. The registration scheme is essential to ensure the quality of work and is in the interest of homeowners and the taxpayer.

Contractors registering with SEI for the scheme are required to sign up to a code of conduct and to comply with a range of terms and conditions to ensure work quality standards. They will need to demonstrate that they are suitably qualified to carry out the works for which they are seeking registration. Contractors will also have to carry a specified level of insurance and be fully tax compliant.

As of 6 March, over one thousand contractors had applied to SEI to register for the Scheme. The list of registered contractors will be continually updated by SEI.

There has been an excellent level of interest in the scheme to date. As of 2 March, SEI had taken over 13,000 phone queries from homeowners and over 40,000 people had visited SEI's website to check out the scheme. The Minister and I are optimistic that there will be very strong take-up of the scheme, with resultant good outcomes for homeowners, for the construction sector, for the environment and for the economy.