Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason work under the warmer homes scheme was not completed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [28848/12]

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 combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and private contractors. To date the scheme has completed energy efficiency measures in over 83,000 homes.

At all times the scheme works to maximise the number of vulnerable homes to receive support, particularly when working from a limited budget envelope. The focus of efforts therefore is to prioritise homes which have not received any measures previously, maximising the number of vulnerable homes that will receive some form of improvement. Within this context, the best impact for homeowners and value for public funds can be achieved by limiting interventions to single visits per home.

The applicant received attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, low energy light bulbs and energy advice from Muireas (a CBO) in October 2010 which have improved the comfort and running costs of his home. At the time however, Muireas did not provide a cavity wall insulation service. Therefore, the home, of the person in question, was subsequently referred to another CBO to complete the cavity wall insulation. Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented level of demand for the scheme being experienced by mid 2011, it was necessary to adjust the scheme rules to address the significant demand in homes where no works had been undertaken.

As the applicant had already received works in 2010, which included all the measures which the originally appointed CBO was in a position to deliver at that time, regrettably, it is not possible to undertake cavity wall insulation in his home under the application made in 2010.

Since the start of 2012, where a home is identified which require works beyond the capacity of the local CBO, the home is referred to a separate contractor to complete the works within one visit, thus maintaining scheme efficiency.

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 established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members, which can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.