Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of applications received for home energy saving schemes to start in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3407/10]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the national energy efficiency retrofit programme will be launched in view of the difficulties that expenditure in 2009 was running behind profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3408/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of persons who availed of home energy saving scheme grants in 2009; the value of grants provided in 2009; if the scheme is continuing in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3334/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 124 and 146 together.

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.

The scheme, which was launched in March 2009, had attracted 40,724 applications by the end of December 2009. Some €16.26 million was paid out by SEI by the end of the year, representing 33,434 energy efficient measures installed in 18,183 homes. The scheme allows homeowners six months, from the date of grant approval, to have the work undertaken. In the first three weeks of January there have been an average of 1,300 applications per week and some €2.5m has been paid out in HES grants in that period.

The National Energy Retrofit Programme, announced on Budget Day, will further reduce energy costs and carbon emissions in homes and business while also creating employment and developing a sustainable market for energy services in Ireland. The detailed design and specification of the new programme is being finalised by my Department and SEI. The Programme will be the subject of a public consultation in the near future. In broad terms the Retrofit Programme will bring together the HES and the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS), as well as support programmes for business and the public sector. It will also involve the development and promotion of energy services by the energy companies.

This new Programme has the potential to be the most innovative, ambitious, energy-related initiative ever introduced in Ireland. It will significantly reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to meeting the national efficiency targets including the target of 33% set for the public sector. It will also create significant employment in the energy and construction sectors in support of economic renewal.

It is important to stress that pending the introduction of the Retrofit Programme, the HES and the WHS are fully open for business in 2010 with applications being received and processed by SEI.