Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is a grant assistance available to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [30939/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I announced the launch of Better Energy: the National Upgrade Programme, in May this year as part of the Government's Jobs Initiative. Better Energy: Homes encompasses the three established energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes: the Home Energy Savings Scheme (HES), the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) and the Greener Homes Scheme (GHS). Measures supported under Better Energy Programme are those designed to deliver the greatest energy savings, thus optimising the value achieved from the Exchequer funding and the value for the householder. The measures grant-aided under this strand include roof and wall insulation, high efficiency boilers, heating control upgrades and solar thermal.

Support for biomass and wood pellet burners through the Greener Homes Scheme was designed to develop a mature and functioning market, which is now in place. Having achieved its objectives wood pellet, wood gasification and heat pump technologies are no longer grant aided and the Scheme has now closed. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers Better Energy on behalf of my Department. 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). All queries, from scheme applicants and public representatives, on delivery dates for individual households and/or funding arrangements are dealt with immediately. In addition, the SEAI has recently established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members at oireachtas@seai.ie .