Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will change the criteria for grant aided conservation projects for home owners to a partially means tested scheme, in order that higher grants are available to those with lower incomes, on a sliding scale basis, in view of the fact that the present scheme means that the benefits of the scheme are available only to the wealthiest homeowners, as they are the only ones with the means to pay the remaining costs. [13634/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Better Energy programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), on behalf of my Department. The scheme is a demand-led programme open to all homeowners of dwellings built before 2006. The Better Energy Homes scheme provides support to homeowners towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades including solar thermal with the works being undertaken by privately appointed contractors. It is not planned to move to means test applications. The Better Energy: Warmer Homes Scheme is available to low-income households in receipt of the fuel allowance, which is means tested. Measures that are available are draught-proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation. The Department and the SEAI are in the process of reviewing the eligibility criteria for Better Energy: Warmer Homes. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to roll out a Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) energy retrofit scheme for domestic buildings in early 2014. Such a scheme would substitute Exchequer funding currently being provided to the Better Energy Programme and it is envisaged that this new model will facilitate different household incomes to access energy efficiency measures. The PAYS concept is an innovative financing mechanism that would allow consumers to finance upgrades directly through the energy savings generated. My Department has established a project team to undertake the necessary technical and financial analysis of a PAYS model in the Irish context and I will bring forward proposals to Government shortly.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13715/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Better Energy programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes solar grant is €800 for every eligible home where the installation of the system meets the installation requirements as set out in the Better Energy Homes Code of Practice. The requirements under Better Energy Homes are in line with the current building regulations in this area. The requirements are also set out in the Solar Buyers Guide which forms part of the Better Energy Homes scheme Application Form and Guide. SEAI advises that to meet the technical specification of the grant, the solar water heating installation must contribute a portion of renewable energy for domestic hot water heating depending on the floor area of the property (these figures are calculated in the Building Energy Rating (BER) software dwelling energy assessment procedure. SEAI further advises that where the applicant's property has a stated BER floor area of 268 sq. m., the solar installation must be sized to provide at least 2,000 KW hours per annum with the solar renewable energy contribution per year being verified by the chosen solar water heating installation company before installation commences. According to the SEAI, the information supplied for this property is that the installation only provides 797 KW hours per year as compared with a requirement for a property this size of 2000 KW hours per year. When the contractor returned this solar calculation information, it indicated that the installed system fell far short of the installation requirements and was therefore declined. Payment of this grant was declined by SEAI for failure to meet the technical requirements of the grant scheme and a letter confirming this was sent to the homeowner on 13 January 2012. My Department has asked the SEAI to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter.