Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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238. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the warmth and well-being energy efficiency upgrade scheme will be extended to Dublin 3, 5, 13 and 17; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40343/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Warmth and Well-being scheme is a pilot initiative being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The scheme intends to demonstrate the positive effects that making their homes warmer and more energy efficient can have on the health and well-being of people in energy poverty who are living with a chronic respiratory condition.

As it is a pilot scheme, eligibility is limited. The operational area for the scheme was selected as Community Health Area (CHO) 7, following consultation with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This CHO encompasses Kildare/West Wicklow, Dublin West, Dublin South City and Dublin South West. Within CHO 7 the need to build capacity in the local public health and SEAI teams, and establish communications on the pilot with the local community, meant that a further localisation was necessary and Dublin 12 and 24 were selected as the initial operational areas.

With the additional resources I have made available to the scheme in 2017, the steering committee for the scheme, made up of representatives from my Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Department of Health and the HSE, determined that the area covered by the scheme could be expanded to cover Dublin 8, 10 and 22 and that eligibility could be expanded to cover families with young children. By including families with young children it is hoped that the scheme can also show a positive impact on school attendance and social inclusion.

The scheme is intended to run for a further two years (2017-2018). In parallel with the scheme’s delivery, an independent research project will be commissioned by my Department, which will assess the impact the scheme is having. At the conclusion of the scheme and with independent evidence on its effectiveness, the potential for a wider roll-out will be considered.

I would finally note that the Warmer Homes scheme is available on a nationwide basis to low income households who are at risk of energy poverty. More information on this scheme is available on SEAI’s website at: