John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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496. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the success or otherwise of the warmth and wellbeing pilot programme that commenced in 2016 and was piloted in parts of Dublin 8, 10, 12, 22 and 24; the number of persons that have benefitted from this programme in each area, in tabular form; his plans for the expansion of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41467/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Warmth and Wellbeing scheme is a pilot initiative being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The main aim of the scheme , which began in 2016, is to demonstrate the positive effects that making homes warmer and more energy efficient can have on the health and wellbeing of people in energy poverty who are living with a chronic respiratory condition. An independent research project 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 rollout will be considered.

In total, 259 homes have been upgraded so far under the scheme, with another 203 homes currently having work done which will be completed by the end of 2017. A further 56 homes have had the initial survey of their home completed and will be assigned to contractors in the coming days and weeks. There is an additional list of of applicants who have been referred to the scheme as applications are coming in every week. This list will expand over the winter months and those people will have their upgrades carried out as early as possible in 2018. This type of work cannot always take place during the winter months.

I expect to allocate at least €20m in funding to this pilot by the end of 2018 to provide for the upgrade of at least 1,500 homes. This is the minimum size needed to develop the evidence base on the impact on the health outcomes of participants of making their homes more energy efficient and warmer, and make the business case for a wider rollout of the scheme.

The Deputy may also be aware that the Better Energy 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: or Freephone: 1800 250 204.