Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

186. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has undertaken an assessment of the results arising for respiratory disease sufferers who have benefitted from the warmth and well-being scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4863/19]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Warmth and Wellbeing Pilot Scheme is a joint initiative between the Department of Health, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Health Services Executive (HSE). To date, the HSE have referred 1,402 qualifying households to the SEAI for assessment for energy efficiency upgrades such as attic and wall insulation, boiler replacement, and window and door replacement.

Housing quality is key determinant of health, especially among those who live with respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The scheme is a concrete example of working across government to directly address the determinants of health in line with the Healthy Ireland Framework, and has my full support. Officials in my Department have been working very closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on the next phase of the scheme.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have been contracted to analyse the effectiveness of the scheme. Work is underway to provide a preliminary report on the scheme early in 2019 and a final research report in 2021. The feedback from the majority of scheme participants to date is positive.