Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grants and supports available for persons in the 60 to 65 years age group seeking to re-roof and insulate their homes to improve the energy efficiency of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39809/09]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grants and supports available for persons aged 65 years and over seeking to re-roof and insulate their homes to improve the energy efficiency of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39810/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.

Financial supports are available to homeowners, regardless of age, under two schemes funded by my Department, to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes.

The Home Energy Saving (HES) Scheme which is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) provides grant assistance to homeowners for energy efficiency retrofitting measures including attic and wall insulation, very high-efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments.

The scheme is open to anybody owning a house that was built prior to 2006. 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, depending on the measure concerned. A list of eligible measures and fixed grant rates is set out in the following table:

Further information is available by contacting 1850 927000.

My Department's Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) also provides support for low income housing for insulation and other energy efficiency improvement measures. This scheme is managed by SEI and implemented by local community groups. Measures include cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, boiler lagging jackets, draught proofing measures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). These measures are provided free or at a nominal cost to the householder. Advice is also provided on minimising energy use.

Some €20 million has been made available to the WHS in 2009. This represents a very substantial increase on previous years and the WHS is expected to support energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homes this year.

My colleague, John Gormley T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, also operates a Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, which is delivered through local authorities. Grants of up to €10,500 are available for structural repairs including minor roof repairs to the homes of older people.