Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of applications for the warmer homes scheme that have been received from County Mayo; the number of applications that have been fully processed and have had works completed; if all eligible applications submitted to Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland will have works as specified in the scheme carried out; if he will ensure sufficient resources are immediately allocated to Clár ICH, Claremorris and Mayo North East Leader Partnership to complete all outstanding applications without further delays; if he will ensure outstanding works will be allocated to private contractors to clear the backlog; and if the warmer homes scheme is still open for new applications. [35443/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Better Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households which are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations, augmented by a panel of private contractors. The measures installed include attic and cavity wall insulation, draught proofing, hot water cylinder lagging jacket and CFLs. Homeowners are also given energy advice.

To date, energy efficiency improvements in over 75,000 homes have been made under Better Energy: Warmer Homes. Some 920 homes in County Mayo benefitted from the scheme in 2010. The 2011 target of 20,000 homes will be reached by the end of the year. A total of 16,400 homes have been improved to the end of October 2011, including 1,000 homes in County Mayo. There has been a significant uptake in applications and interest in the scheme over the last three years. The success of the scheme in 2010 led to increased awareness and demand.

There are currently 9,306 homes nationwide on the Better Energy: Warmer Homes waiting list, of which 816 are in County Mayo. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is working towards a six-month timeframe for service delivery. This scheme remains open and eligible homeowners can register for the scheme by calling the dedicated hotline number at 1800 250 204. Delivery in 2012 is currently determined in the context of budgetary decisions and the imminent publication of the Affordable Energy Strategy.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the verification measures that are undertaken to ensure that the applicant for grant assistance under the better energy homes scheme is the home owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35636/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Better Energy: Warmer Homes is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on behalf of my Department. The scheme provides grant assistance to homeowners for energy efficiency retrofitting measures, including attic and wall insulation, high-efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating assessments. Over 100,000 homeowners have availed of the scheme since its launch in March 2009.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has advised that the terms and conditions of the scheme include a requirement that the householder / applicant is the owner of the home, which is affirmed by way of self-declaration both at the point of application and when requesting payment of the grant on completion of works. In addition, the meter point reference number is requested for all properties, which is then validated against a database of such numbers. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland works continuously to ensure all requisite verifications are undertaken and to ensure the robustness of systems.