Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider opening the better energy scheme to local authority tenants on the proviso that the tenants will pay any balance of costs above the individual grant threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3026/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Better Energy programme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on behalf of my Department, provides energy efficiency upgrades in privately owned homes. The Warmer Homes Scheme specifically fully funds energy efficiency upgrades in vulnerable private owned houses. Since 2004, retrofitting measures in local authority housing are undertaken as part of the local authority-owned housing improvement works programme. The Programme is the responsibility for the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government advise that the Social Housing Improvement Programme, is provided to Housing Authorities to undertake improvement works to occupied and vacant social housing units, including works to improve the energy efficiency and general standard of the houses concerned. Some €31 million was made available for this purpose in 2011.