Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of the amount that has been set aside by his Department in grants over the past three years to improve the energy efficiency of homes; the amount of homes that have been improved as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34156/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The following table gives a breakdown for 2008, 2009 and 2010 to date of the total expenditure and the number of homes assisted under the energy efficiency programmes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

The new National Retrofit Programme, which currently is being finalised following public consultation, will integrate these energy efficiency programmes and build upon their success to date to deliver significantly enhanced energy savings.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plan to meet the target of insulating one million houses over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34158/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government's National Retrofit Programme will draw together the existing energy efficiency programmes of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) into a single framework. The objective of the Retrofit Programme is to deliver energy efficiency upgrades to one million residential, public and commercial buildings in Ireland. It will be a programme of scale, involving energy supply companies, energy services providers, construction workers, energy auditors and policymakers, working together to deliver energy savings, cost reductions and ultimately smaller carbon footprints for energy customers.

The programme will build on the success of the existing energy efficiency programmes including the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) and the Home Energy Savings Scheme (HES) as well as the programmes for the public sector and industry.

The Programme will, among other innovative approaches, require energy companies to promote and deliver energy efficiency measures and services to their customers.

It will also introduce new ways in which householders are incentivised to invest in energy efficiency, which will support and drive the necessary behavioural change by consumers while also underpinning the maintenance and growth of the energy services and building sectors.

A public consultation process has just concluded on the new Retrofit Programme. Over 50 submissions have been received which are being reviewed as part of finalising the details of the Programme.

A programme of information events, workshops and seminars is also being undertaken by SEAI with key stakeholders, which is informing the finalisation of the Programme.