Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of persons who have been refused the better energy home scheme grant because they were late in submitting their paper work. [29971/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Better Energy Homes scheme 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 Build Energy Ratings certificates. Since commencement in March 2009 the scheme has disbursed over €138m in grants and supported the installation of over 320,000 energy efficiency measures in 127,000 homes.

The number of applications which have been declined because the grant claim was not received within the six-month grant eligibility period is 1,051 or less than 1% of the total applications to the scheme. Out of the 1,051 grants declined, approximately two-thirds of the applicants subsequently appealed, with 349 appeals successful. The total number of grant claims which were ultimately refused due to offer expiry is 667, with 35 applications remaining pending.