Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of homes covered by the warmer homes scheme here; and his plans to expand the scheme. [25770/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and delivered by community based organisations (CBOs). The CBOs work in partnership with their local network of poverty and community support organisations, including public health nurses, MABS and St. Vincent De Paul, to identify and address the energy needs of vulnerable homes. The scheme provides structural energy efficiency improvements to private homes in, or at risk of, fuel poverty. These measures include insulation, lagging jackets, energy efficient lighting and draft proofing measures. To date, energy efficiency improvements in almost 25,000 homes have been made under the Warmer Homes Scheme. A breakdown by year is set out in the table below. Some €20 million has been provided for the scheme in 2009, which includes €5 million being provided between ESB and Bord Gáis Éireann. This will enable structural improvements to be made to at least 15,000 homes this year. Some 21 CBOs have, to date, been approved by SEI to provide the Warmer Homes Scheme in their area. SEI has invited new community organisations to participate in the scheme in areas outside current coverage with a view to achieving full nationwide coverage by the end of the year.