Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding a matter (details supplied). [47274/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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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. For households on low incomes, such as those in receipt of fuel allowance, invalidity or disability benefit, the Warmer Homes Scheme managed by SEI will install cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, a boiler lagging jacket, draught proofing measures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Advice is also provided to householders on minimising energy use. These measures are provided free or at a token cost.

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, with a further significant expansion of the scheme planned for 2010. Further information on the Warmer Homes Scheme is available by calling 1800-250204, by emailing warmerhomes@sei.ie or at www.sei.ie/Grants/Warmer_Homes_Scheme. 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.

The Government also recognises that the effective communication of energy saving information and advice to the elderly and other vulnerable customers is crucial. The updated Keep Well and Warm booklet, and the associated website - http://www.wellandwarm.ie - provide energy saving advice as well as information on grant schemes and other supports. Some 132,000 copies of the booklet have been circulated this year.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was refused a grant under the home energy saving scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47267/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Home Energy Saving (HES) Scheme, which is being implemented by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), provides grant assistance to homeowners wishing to install roof and wall insulation, highly efficient boilers and heating controls in their homes. In order to avail of the scheme, homeowners must use a contractor registered with SEI for the Scheme. All works carried out under the Scheme are underpinned by a comprehensive SEI Technical Specification and Code of Practice for these contractors, which ensure that works undertaken are of the highest quality, materials installed are fit for purpose and overall the investment by the homeowner and the Exchequer constitutes good value for money.

The applicant in this case sought a grant for internal wall insulation which was not awarded. The rules of the Scheme require that internal wall insulation installed must achieve a U-value of 0.27 W/m2K for external walls. I am informed by SEI that in this case the U-value achieved was significantly below this standard and therefore could not be considered for grant aid under the Scheme.

The rules of the Scheme require that the contractor must sign a declaration of works on completion. In this, the contractor declares that all works have been done in a manner that is fully compliant with the Terms and Conditions of Contractor Registration and the Home Energy Saving Scheme Code of Practice and Standards and Specifications Guidelines. The applicant may have recourse to the contractor on the basis of declarations made by him. This could entail having the works brought up to the standard required, at which point SEI could reconsider the grant payment request. As part of its quality framework and disciplinary process, SEI investigates matters of possible non-compliance with the contractor's code of conduct.