James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 765: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who was given grant approval under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in 2011 for roof level and cavity wall insulation and received the amount due, but not the €800 for solar water heating, which is now being contested as the SEAI regulations, which both they and the installer understood to apply regardless of the size of the house, have changed in respect of the square meters applicable and their house is slightly over 170 square meters, necessitating a larger system which they cannot afford and they are left owing the €800 they were forced to borrow for the installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18958/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Homes solar grant amounts to €800 for every eligible home where the installation meets the performance requirements set out in the Better Energy Homes Code of Practice and the homeowner's Solar Buyers Guide.

The specification requires that the solar water heating installation must contribute a portion of renewable energy for domestic hot water heating relative to the floor area of the property. All registered solar contractors have been fully apprised of the specific requirements.

The property of the applicant has a floor area of 178 square meters and so the solar installation must provide at least 1,700 kilo Watt hours (kWh) per annum. The information supplied to the SEAI at the time of grant claim and subsequent appeals indicates that the installation only provides 1,196 kWh per year, significantly below the prescribed requirements for this particular property. Payment of this grant was therefore declined for failure to meet the technical requirements of the grant scheme. Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and a dedicated hot line can be reached at 1800 250 204. In addition, the SEAI has recently established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members, which can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.