Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the implementation of Warmer Homes: A Strategy for Affordable Energy in Ireland; the progress made on implementing its key objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52170/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Affordable Energy Strategy was published in November 2011 and developed by the Inter-Departmental/Agency Group on Affordable Energy (IDGAE) as part of the Department’s commitment in the Programme for Government to help mitigate energy poverty. The Affordable Energy Strategy provides a framework for building upon the many measures already in place to protect households at risk from the effects of energy poverty, which include the thermal efficiency-based measures delivered through the Better Energy: Warmer Homes programme. This programme is a key element of the Affordable Energy Strategy. The energy efficiency measures, which it funds, are targeted at low income families and will make a lasting impact on fuel poverty in the case of individuals benefiting under the scheme. Exchequer funding of €23.647 million has been allocated to this programme in 2012. The scheme has addressed 87,789 fuel poor homes since 2000 of which 7,401 have been delivered since the start of 2012 to the end of October. So far this year, over €9 million has been spent under Better Energy: Warmer Homes.

There are forty-eight actions identified in the strategy that are being implemented over the life-time of the report (3 years). Five priority measures are identified including a commitment to review the National Fuel Scheme in the context of examining the feasibility of aligning income supports with the energy efficiency and income of the home, the phased introduction of minimal thermal efficiency standards for rental accommodation, ensuring greater access to energy efficiency measures, reforming the eligibility criteria for energy efficiency schemes and the introduction of an area based approach. Work is ongoing by the IDGAE on the implementation of all the actions contained in the strategy.