Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects funding to be allocated to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland warmer homes scheme for the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7022/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Better Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty with a total of 20,388 being addressed in 2011. The scheme is managed on behalf of my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. Funding of €17.146 million has been allocated to the SEAI to administer the delivery of Better Energy: Warmer Homes in 2012.

The SEAI is currently in the process of contract renewal with the network of CBOs. Contracts with 20 CBOs were issued last week, and the SEAI is working towards finalising contract arrangements with the final eight. Contracts will run from the 1 February 2012 to 1 December 2012.

In addition, an Invitation to Tender will shortly be published by the SEAI to establish a new panel of private contractors to augment this network. The public procurement process through the Official Journal of the European Union will take a number of weeks to conclude and a panel should be in place by early in Quarter Two.