Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount that was spent on the better energy homes scheme in 2011; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of projects funded by category and sub total cost; the projected spend and number of projects in each category in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25807/12]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount that was spent on the warmer homes scheme in 2011; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of projects funded by category and sub total cost; the projected spend and number of projects in each category in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25808/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme. The table below details the number of energy efficiency measures delivered and grants paid from the Exchequer under the Better Energy programme in 2011 and 2012.

I will arrange for the SEAI to forward a more detailed breakdown of the measures delivered under the Better Energy Programme as it has not been possible to provide this level of detail in the time frame provided.

Better Energy Homes is a demand-led programme. Since commencement in March 2009 the scheme has disbursed over €133m in grants and supported the installation of over 300,000 such measures in over 123,000 homes.

Exchequer funding of €76.146 million has been allocated to the Better Energy Programme in 2012, which is projected to deliver 433GWh in energy savings. The Better Energy Programme includes Better Energy Homes, Warmer Homes and Better Energy Workplaces. Better Energy Homes provides financial assistance to householders who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying BER.

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 SEAI and delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage.

Within the Better Energy Programme €17.148 million has been allocated for Better Energy: Warmer Homes in 2012; and is projected to deliver energy efficiency measures to 17,000 homes. 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. As is normal in the case of the Warmer Homes Scheme, expenditure is expected to intensify in the latter half of the year. Since commencement of the Programme in 2000, energy efficiency upgrades have been delivered to 81,616 homes amounting to €82.773 million in Exchequer funding.