Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 to 316, inclusive, together.

The Warmer Homes Scheme, for which funding is being provided in 2010, supports energy efficiency improvements to homes in, or at risk of, fuel poverty. The Scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). SEI provides funding directly to local Community Based Organisations (CBOs) for the delivery of the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) to a set number of homes in their respective areas of coverage. Therefore, unlike other SEI grant schemes, the Warmer Homes Scheme does not provide funding directly to individuals that are eligible for the scheme. Eligibility is determined on the basis that the home requires the works, is privately owned and the homeowner is in receipt of the Fuel Allowance, invalidity or disability benefit.

SEI informs me that a total of 1,491 households in County Waterford had services provided to them under the Warmer Homes Scheme in 2009. It is not possible to state what level of funding represents but this figure is approximately 10% of the total number of homes across the country that have benefitted from the Scheme in 2009. Some €20 million was provided to the WHS in 2009. This represents a very substantial increase on previous years and the WHS is supporting energy efficiency interventions in 15,000 low income homes this year.