Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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696. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reasons dormer housing is not eligible for attic insulation under the Sustainable Energy Ireland free scheme [34736/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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697. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date the decision to exclude dormer housing from receiving attic insulation was reached under the free scheme. [34737/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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698. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason a private contractor would be in a position to conduct such attic insulation and a contractor under the Sustainable Energy Ireland scheme is not in a position to do so under the policy change regarding dormer attic insulation. [34738/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 696 to 698, inclusive, together.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme which 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, and via an area based approach. Measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation and are free of charge to the eligible homeowners. To date the programme has addressed almost 100,000 fuel poor homes, 5,500 of those in 2013.

Dormer roofs present particular technical challenges meaning that traditional insulation, as used under the scheme, can only be installed in certain parts of the roof space resulting in only partial insulation coverage. A full insulation solution would only be possible with recourse to expensive internal dry-lining, not provided under the scheme due to budgetary constraints. Furthermore, the provision of adequate ventilation in an attic space to mitigate the risks of harmful condensation increases costs significantly. The practice of insulating dormer roofs through the scheme was reviewed in mid-2012, in the context of trying to address the maximum number of energy poor homes from within available resources. On balance it was decided that the significant additional costs are not generally justified relative to the marginal insulation gains. Therefore insulation of dormer roofs has not been implemented under the scheme since July 2012.

Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and a dedicated hotline 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 and will be dealt with promptly.