Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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482. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason an application by a person (details supplied) under the warmer homes scheme to have external wall insulation provided has been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9269/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is funded by my Department and administered 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. To date over 135,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level.

The aim of the scheme is to deliver a range of energy efficiency measures in a way which represents the best possible use of Exchequer funding. This means focusing eligibility to those in receipt of certain payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, such as the Fuel Allowance, and limiting each home to one visit for an energy efficiency upgrade. Last year, the measures available under the scheme were expanded. Subject to a survey by SEAI and assessment of potential for improved energy performance, the scheme can, in certain circumstances, include internal or external wall insulation. This is permitting the upgrade of more property types such as homes with solid walls, and also increasing the energy savings and emissions reductions that the scheme is achieving and will also enable future fuel switching.

Demand for the scheme is extremely high, reflecting this shift to deeper measures, and is impacted by longer delivery times associated with these type of works and the delivery capacity of SEAI’s contractor panel.

The measures offered under the scheme are currently being reviewed again in light of new Building Regulations coming into force later this year. Any works carried out under the scheme will need to comply with the requirements set out under those regulations, while also taking account of the budget available to the scheme.

While homes that previously received works under the scheme are not currently eligible for a second visit, consideration will be given to revisiting these properties later in 2019, where feasible and appropriate.