Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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1545. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to extend the better energy warmer homes scheme administered through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31434/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty, which meet the defined eligibility criteria. The homes of the scheme beneficiaries are retrofitted free of charge, thus making those homes more energy efficient. The retrofit measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation.

Since the commencement of the scheme in 2000, 117,787 homes around the country have received energy efficiency measures at a cost to the Exchequer of €143.9m. €15.8m has been allocated to the scheme for 2015. Demand for this scheme remains strong, clearly demonstrating its potential to continue to deliver energy efficiency gains and related benefits, such as reduced energy costs and better health outcomes.

Spend on the Warmer Homes Scheme is set on an annual basis through the estimates process and my Department must work within approved allocations. However, there is clear evidence that delivering energy efficiency improvements remains the best method of combating energy poverty, which is a priority of the Government. Therefore, I will continue to ensure that improving the energy efficiency of homes of those vulnerable to energy poverty remains central to Ireland’s Better Energy Programme. I should also highlight that I will be publishing a new Affordable Energy Strategy around the end of this year.