Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if changes were made in the conditions attached to the home energy savings scheme or the website presentation following its introduction; if so, when the changes regarding partial insulation will be made; the grant entitlement of persons who obtained grant approval prior to such changes having been made and who have committed themselves to expenditure based on such grant approval will receive grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25041/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Since the Home Energy Saving Scheme was officially launched on 25 March, there have been no specific changes made to the terms and conditions of the Scheme. The Scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and its website carries a wealth of information on the measures supported and how homeowners can apply. Where queries have arisen from homeowners regarding interpretation of the terms and conditions of the scheme, SEI has worked to include any necessary clarifications in additional or amended material.

One such clarification related to the requirement for homeowners to ensure that the measures they install represent an optimal solution in terms of both energy efficiency and value for money. This matter was the subject of some correspondence to SEI, with both homeowners and contractors seeking clarification regarding so called 'partial solutions'. SEI's clarification on this subject has since been included in Scheme documentation and on its website.

In relation to insulation, contractors registered with the scheme are required to ensure that an optimal, whole-element solution is provided. This means for example, that in order to avail of a grant for wall insulation, all exposed walls must normally be either internally or externally insulated as appropriate and for a grant for roof insulation, that the whole surface of the ceiling or roof space must normally be insulated. Where only partial coverage is achieved, this must be detailed in the Declaration of Works returned to SEI with the claim for payment and the contractor should inform the homeowner that this may impact on their eligibility for a grant.

Partial solutions will only be accepted by SEI in exceptional cases, where it can be shown that a whole-element solution is either not physically or economically possible. For example, it may not be physically possible to provide complete roof insulation coverage due to small inaccessible areas of the roof. Internal dry-lining of all exposed walls in a particular dwelling may not be economically viable where it would require that kitchen units are removed. Justification for these exceptional partial solutions must be given in the Declaration of Works.

The criterion of economic viability of a whole element solution, does not relate to the economic cost for the homeowner concerned but relates to the economic benefit of the solution in terms of energy and CO2 savings, versus the cost of works. It is the case that some homeowners may not be in a position to afford the cost of insulating their entire home and may wish to insulate just one or two rooms. However, the heat loss in such a situation through the un-insulated walls means that grant payment for such work could not be justified.

Those who cannot afford to insulate their homes may qualify to have works done at token cost under the Warmer Homes Scheme. This scheme provides cavity wall and roof insulation, as well as draught-proofing measures, boiler lagging jacket and energy efficient lighting, to those in receipt of Fuel Allowance, Invalidity or Disability Benefit. I have increased the budget available to the Warmer Homes Scheme to €20 million in 2009, including a contribution from Bord Gáis and ESB, and this level of funding will allow up to 15,000 low income homes to benefit from energy upgrades this year alone.