Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 606: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will support a matter (details supplied). [15943/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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From the information supplied by the Deputy, it would appear that the contractor is proposing to pump insulation into the wall, filling the hollows of cavity blocks.

The Home Energy Saving Scheme, which is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) provides grant assistance for cavity wall insulation. Typically, cavity walls consist of two rows of brick or concrete block, with a cavity or space between them. Injection of insulating product from the outside is an ideal method for insulating this type of wall.

SEI advises that it does not consider this method to be suitable for houses built with cavity blocks (as opposed to cavity walls), as the injected insulating material does not reduce heat movement significantly.

SEI advises that while pumping the cavity of the block may achieve 80% 'coverage' of the wall area, the more significant proportion of heat loss occurs through the cavity block ends and spine and not the filled in cavity. The pumped in insulation does not address this heat loss and so will only improve the insulation properties of the wall by approximately 22%.

SEI advises that the two alternative methods grant aided under the Scheme – internal wall dry-lining and external wall insulation – are more appropriate for cavity block houses. While more expensive, they provide a greatly superior insulation solution. The respective grant amounts of €2,500 and €4,000 reflect the extra capital investment required.

My Department has asked SEI to make direct contact with the individuals concerned to ensure that they have all the necessary, impartial, technical information to inform their decision.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 607: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the relevant training and certification that is required by tradesmen to carry out works under the home energy saving scheme; if a specific training certificate qualification is required; if time served in the trade appropriate to the work carried out is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15156/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has set out in section 7 of its "Home Energy Savings Scheme - Contractors Code of Practice and Standards and Specifications Guidelines", the competency and standards expected of contractors for each of the measures eligible for grant assistance under the Scheme.

The competency standards prescribed are there to protect householders and ensure the quality and safety of work, which is grant-aided by the Exchequer. These standards are in all instances the traditional vocational training for the activities concerned, as distinct from any specific training required for the Scheme.

For boiler and heating control installations, SEI standards specify that contractors must have a National Craft Certificate in Plumbing. For boiler installations, a level 6 qualification in a related area such as Building Services, Gas Installer Domestic (GID) training etc., may also suffice. The contractor must have completed an electrical module in order to carry out the electrical work involved in specific control measures. A contractor wishing to install an LPG or Natural Gas boiler must also be a Registered Gas Contractor and hold a Gas Contractors Domestic Certificate (GID, GI 2 or GI 3) or equivalent.

SEI also specifies various competency requirements for contractors installing the different insulation measures eligible under the Scheme. In general these requirements relate to the competency required to install the measure concerned, inclusion on any Approved Installer lists operated by manufacturers of the insulation material concerned, and compliance with the requirements of any NSAI Agrément Certificate that may apply.

The SEI Code of Practice and Guidelines document can be found on SEI's website at www.sei.ie.