Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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18. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the uptake in 2012 and 2013 of the better energy homes scheme and the better energy warmer homes scheme; and the steps being taken to encourage persons to avail of these positive efficiency schemes. [51691/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes Schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. The number of homes that have received grants under these programmes in 2012 and to date in 2013 are set out in the following table:

The SEAI is currently running an extensive targeted campaign promoting the continued availability of the grants, to coincide with the current winter heating season. A further marketing exercise will be undertaken in 2014 on foot of the Government’s commitment in Budget 2013 to provide additional Exchequer funding of €57 million for the Better Energy Programme. The funding is anticipated to support the delivery of energy efficiency upgrades to approximately 17,000 homes under the Better Energy Homes scheme and another 14,000 homes experiencing energy poverty under the Warmer Homes scheme.

The SEAI and my Department are open to new and innovative ways to promote and to ensure good homeowner awareness and engagement with both schemes. Currently, a variety of channels and media are used including print, radio and internet advertising, digital and social media, public relations and participation in national consumer exhibitions. The SEAI also collaborates with trade representative bodies and obligated energy suppliers under the Better Energy Programme in these promotions to increase their overall reach to homeowners.

Due in no small measures to the successful promotion of the schemes, the SEAI is on target to deliver fully on their commitment to address 10,000 homes experiencing energy poverty and 12,000 homes under the Better Energy Homes scheme by the end of 2013.