Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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896. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the Warmer Homes Scheme administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland which provides for the installation of lagging jackets, energy bulbs and wall insulation for homes; if the only option available for wall insulation is the cavity block pumping option; if this will be extended to include other options such as external and internal insulation which are less invasive; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1108/16]

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, 119,701 homes around the country have received energy efficiency measures at a cost to the Exchequer of €154.9m. €16.5m has been allocated to the scheme for 2016. Demand for this scheme remains very strong, clearly demonstrating its potential to continue to deliver energy efficiency gains and related benefits, such as reduced energy costs and better health outcomes.

The measures currently supported are those that can deliver the most energy savings at the lowest cost to the greatest number of homes. This is why cavity wall insulation is the measure typically offered under this scheme; in a very small number of exceptional circumstances other measures, such as internal dry lining or external cladding of the walls, are provided.

There is clear evidence that delivering energy efficiency improvements remains the best method of combating energy poverty, which is a Government priority. 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. This will be set out in detail in a new strategy on energy poverty which I will be publishing in the coming weeks.