Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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827. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of successful applications that were awarded grants under the better energy scheme and its predecessor domestic retrofit grant schemes in each year from their establishment to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38774/13]

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 commenced in 2009 and provides support to homeowners towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades including solar thermal with the works being undertaken by privately appointed contractors. The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme commenced in 2000 and delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households 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 customer. The area based model was introduced in 2012 to target low income homeowners experiencing extreme energy poverty.

The Greener Homes Scheme was introduced in 2006 to encourage homeowners to convert their heating systems to use more sustainable energy sources and was closed at the end of 2011.

The following table outlines the number of homes that received energy efficiency measures across all the schemes since their commencement to date. A significant milestone has recently been achieved as over 250,000 homes have been upgraded under the Better Energy Programme out of 1.6 million permanently occupied homes throughout the country.