Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Departmental Schemes

10:00 am

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 564: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to issues and anomalies with the home energy savings scheme and its application to upgrades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30089/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I am not aware of any issues or anomalies with the Home Energy Saving Scheme. If the Deputy has specific issues of concern which he wishes to convey to me I will arrange to have them forwarded to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for direct reply. The scheme, which is administered by the SEAI commenced in March 2009 and provides grant assistance to homeowners for retrofit energy efficiency measures such as attic and wall insulation, very high efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments.

Homeowners can apply online and receive speedy same day grant approval once key eligibility criteria are met. All payment is made by Electronic Funds Transfer and all notifications are by email (for online applicants) with the exception of Declarations of Work which requires the signatures of both homeowner and contractor to draw down approved funds.

There is a parallel postal system for homeowners without access to the online system. The commitment that the SEAI gives is that postal applications will be processed within 21 days. I am advised by SEAI that in practice the typical turnaround for such applications is one week. The average turnaround time for all requests for payment is four to five weeks. Since launch last year, the scheme has dealt with over 72,000 applications and processed payments worth €36m relating to the installation of 78,000 measures in over 41,000 homes.

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the home energy saving scheme; the amount of money that has been paid out for this scheme since it was launched in March 2009, not the approximate commitments made but the amount of money paid out to date since the launch in March 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30108/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Home Energy Saving Scheme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, provides grant assistance to homeowners for retrofit energy efficiency measures such as attic and wall insulation, very high efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments.

Since the Scheme was launched in March 2009, grants totalling €36 million have been paid to homeowners across the country. Some 41,000 homes have benefitted from 78,000 measures under the scheme to date.

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