Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position is in relation to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland better energy homes scheme and better energy warmer homes scheme for energy efficient works; his plans to change the above grants; his plans to introduce a replacement scheme if a person has been approved this year and has six months to carry out the work; if there are any plans to change this time frame; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52716/12]

Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to extend the free home insulation scheme or make home heating grants more accessible to middle income earners who are often very financially stretched; his plans to allow home owners insulate their homes and pay off the bills over a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52939/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 461 together.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes under the Better Energy Programme. The scheme is a demand-led programme and the Government has committed €76.146 million in Exchequer funding to the programme in 2012.

The Better Energy Homes scheme provides financial assistance for improving energy performance of older homes, built any time before 2006. The scheme enables homeowners to save money, while improving comfort and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. 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 Building Energy Rating (BER).

The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. Measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to roll out a Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) retrofit scheme after 2013, to replace the Exchequer funding currently being provided to the Better Energy Programme. The PAYS concept is an innovative financing mechanism that would allow consumers to finance energy efficient upgrades. This should allow consumers to avail of energy efficiency measures, including measures to insulate dwellings, using the money that they would have spent on their energy bill. The PAYS project team has commenced and is working on bringing a detailed design to Government in summer 2013.

However, at this point in time, I have no plans to make any changes to the grants provided under the Better Energy Homes and Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes or to amend how the schemes are currently administered.