Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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466. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a person who is in receipt of a disability allowance and the fuel allowance is eligible for the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [17674/18]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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467. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to extend the eligibility criteria of the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [17675/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 467 together.

The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty, who meet the defined eligibility criteria.

I recently announced that the measures available under the scheme are being expanded to include dry lining and external wall insulation. This will increase the number of households that can avail of the scheme. Replacement windows may be offered in limited circumstances, most likely where external wall insulation is being carried out and the existing windows are very poor performing and need to be replaced to ensure the insulation performs effectively. The changes will be introduced over the next two months and updates will be provided on SEAI’' website shortly.

Eligibility for the Warmer Homes scheme is means tested, successful applicants must continue to meet the following criteria:

- You must own and live in your own home

- It must have been built and occupied before 2006

- You must receive one of the following:

- Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme

- Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age

- Family Income Supplement

- One-Parent Family Payment

- Domiciliary Care Allowance 

My Department works with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection  (DEASP) on an on-going basis to ensure that the energy efficiency support programmes administered by SEAI are consistent with, and complementary to, the income support schemes offered by DEASP. The eligibility criteria are kept under review, and there are no plans to expand the eligibility criteria at present.

SEAI will continue to operate a ‘one home one visit’ rule for 2018. This has been the approach in order to ensure that as many eligible homes as possible receive an upgrade. However, revisits will become possible in 2019. This will mean that people who only had their attic insulated previously could become eligible for wall insulation.