Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount that was set aside in Budget 2011 for the warmer homes scheme, and of that money, the amount that was taken up in grants applied for by members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24714/12]

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. The scheme is managed 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.

The SEAI has contracts in place with 27 CBOs. An Invitation to Tender was recently published by the SEAI to establish a new panel of private contractors to augment this network. This is subject to EU tendering procedures and it is expected that the panel will be in place and operational in early June. Once these procedures are complied with I have requested the SEAI to be prepared to step up delivery in the second half of the year.

Exchequer funding of €17.148 million has been allocated for Better Energy: Warmer Homes in 2012. Energy efficiency upgrades have been delivered to 1,228 homes under the scheme from the start of the year to 30 April amounting to €1.343 million in funding from the Exchequer. Since commencement of the Programme Energy Efficiency upgrades have been delivered to 81,616 homes amounting to €82.773 million in Exchequer funding. There are currently 10,032 homes on the waiting list and energy efficiency upgrades continue to be provided to households on the list on 31 March. These applicant homes are being retrofitted according to their place on the waiting list.

All new applicants since the end of 2011 have been informed that there will be a change in eligibility criteria. The focus in 2012 is shifting to addressing those households identified as being in extreme energy poverty as a priority; such households typically spend over 20% of their disposable income on energy services. This will ensure that those most in need receive the benefit of energy efficiency measures first. Factors that will be taken into account in reviewing the eligibility criteria include the age of the home, the thermal efficiency of the home, the number and age of occupants, health considerations and household income. This will ensure that those most in need receive the benefit of energy efficiency measures first. The revised eligibility criteria have been agreed by the Inter Departmental Group on Affordable Energy and will be published shortly.