Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason it is not open to a person to lodge a second application under the warmer homes scheme for additional works, in view of the fact that in many cases the works carried out to date did not cover the full requirements to ensure good heat retention in the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30621/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers Better Energy: Warmer Homes on behalf of my Department. The energy poverty strand of Better Energy aims to provide energy efficiency improvements to low-income homes unable to afford the cost of implementing such measures. This will enable over 20,000 low-income homes to benefit from energy efficiency retrofit measures this year.

There has been a significant uptake in applications and interest in the scheme over the last three years. The success of the scheme has led to an unprecedented demand and a subsequent increase in waiting times. While surveys are carried out on eligible homes and a number of measures are identified, the SEAI has to prioritise lower cost measures, in order to address the maximum number of vulnerable homes. Unfortunately, due to budgetary constraints, it is not possible at this time to re-visit these homes to undertake further works.

The SEAI held an information day for all members of the Oireachtas yesterday. Representatives from the Authority were on hand to explain the current range of schemes and programmes being managed by the Authority and to handle any queries that members had.

Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and dedicated hot lines for both schemes are available (Better Energy: Warmer Homes hot line - 1800 250 204 and Better Energy: Homes hot line - 1850 927 000). In addition, the SEAI has recently established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members which can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.