Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the projected cost of providing funding for window and door insulation as part of the better energy warmer homes scheme. [31750/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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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 as part of the Better Energy Programme. Since 2009, the scheme has supported the renovation of almost 97,000 homes in Ireland.

Under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme, energy efficiency upgrades are provided free of charge to those households who meet the application criteria. Measures are provided under the scheme on an "as needed" basis and include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation.

Window and door insulation are not currently supported under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme due to the need to balance the limited resources available with the demands for this scheme. Therefore, the measures currently supported are those that can deliver the most energy savings at the lowest cost. While both window and door insulation do improve the energy efficiency of a home, the cost of such measures is high in relation to the energy efficiency gains made.