The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department to provide energy efficiency improvements to low-income homes.
My Department is currently engaging with key stakeholders in developing a framework for the operation of the National Retrofit Programme over the next three years. The programme will be launched shortly and will entail the transition of the existing Warmer Homes Scheme, Home Energy Saving Scheme and Greener Homes Scheme over the course of the year. The allocation for the National Retrofit Programme in 2011 is €69.4 million, which encompasses funding for low-income housing retrofits, previously undertaken via the WHS. In addition, it is intended that the new energy efficiency tax relief scheme announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget speech will fully complement the retrofit programme. In advance of the transition to the new national retrofit programme, the WHS will continue to operate as normal.