Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is any facility available to appeal a decision of the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland to refuse payment of an approved grant when the payment request was submitted late due to the applicant's medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30848/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes Programme, which is a demand-led scheme open to all homeowners of dwellings built before 2006.

One of the principal requirements of the Better Energy Homes scheme is that a grant offer remains valid for 6 months from the date of the offer notification and all works and paperwork must be notified and returned to the SEAI before the grant offer expires.

I am advised by SEAI that the Authority clarified in writing the outcome of the application in question on 1 June. The relevant documentation was not supplied until some weeks after the expiry date of the grant offer on 2 March 2012. The applicant was informed on 2 April of the decision not to award a grant on these grounds. The applicant submitted an appeal on the 27 April and SEAI advised by letter on 1 June that the appeal had been refused on the grounds that the explanation for the late submission of the relevant documentation was not considered sufficiently mitigating. Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and there is a dedicated hotline 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.