Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme. This includes the Better Energy Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes Area based programme and the Better Energy Communities programme. The SEAI also administer the Electric Vehicles scheme.Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. 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 BER. Better Energy Homes is a demand-led programme. Since commencement in March 2009, the scheme has delivered energy efficiency measures to over 156,000 homes, supported by grants of over €163million. From the start of 2011 to the present, over 77,000 grants have been paid with a further 5,000 grant offers still within their offer period but where a request for payment has not yet been received. The table below details the number of applications paid and still active for the programme for the period 2011 to present, on a monthly basis.

The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households who meet defined eligibility criteria and who are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the SEAI and delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. Recipients of the scheme do not receive grants but have measures installed free of charge. Homeowners register their interest in the scheme and are placed on the SEAI waiting list. Since the commencement of the scheme in 2000, over 105,000 homes around the country have received energy efficiency measures under the Warmer Homes scheme, with a total spend of over €116 million.

The table below details the number of eligible applications and homes completed for the scheme for the period 2011 to the present, on a monthly basis.

*Note: The reason no homes were completed in January 2012 was because new contractual arrangements were being put in place for both CBOs and private contractors.

The Better Energy Areas scheme, which is free of charge to the customer, delivers energy upgrades to low income homeowners experiencing extreme energy poverty in all housing sectors including Local Authority houses, Housing Association houses and private homes. The scheme was introduced as a pilot under the Affordable Energy Strategy and is delivered on an area basis.

The SEAI also administers the Better Energy Communities programme that supports sustainable energy upgrades to existing buildings, services, facilities and processes in the community sector.

The Areas and Community based schemes were amalgamated in 2014 with an Exchequer allocation of €13.5m. The call for applications for 2014 was announced in February and has a closing date of 30 April, after which the volume of applications will be known. The table below sets out the total number of applications and applications approved by year.

In relation to Electric Vehicles (EVs), Ireland had set an initial target of 10% of the car fleet or 230,000 cars to be electrified by 2020. Since 2009, attention has been focussed on creating the best environment for promoting the penetration of EVs into the car market in Ireland. A grant support scheme for EV consumers has been in place since 2011 under which 418 electric vehicles have been approved for grant aid to date. The consumer receives up to €5,000 off the cost price of the vehicle. In addition, EVs are also treated favourably under our motor tax system and qualify for VRT reliefs of up to €5,000.

The table below details the number of applications submitted and approved for the scheme for the period 2011 to present, on a monthly basis. The reason for the difference between submitted and approved is due mainly to applications being submitted with missing details, customers cancelling orders or changing their initial order.