Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 December 2011
48 Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will have work done to their home under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland warmer homes scheme. [39324/11]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers Better Energy: Warmer Homes on behalf of my Department. The energy poverty strand of Better Energy aims to provide energy efficiency improvements to low-income homes unable to afford the cost of implementing such measures. This is enabling over 20,000 low-income homes to benefit from energy efficiency retrofit measures by the end of this year.
There has been a significant uptake in applications and interest in the scheme over the last three years. The success of the scheme has led to an unprecedented demand and a subsequent increase in waiting times. While surveys are carried out on eligible homes and a number of potential measures are identified, the SEAI has to prioritise lower cost measures, in order to address the maximum number of vulnerable homes in line with budgetary and other resources.
I have been informed that the person referred to has had the measures currently available completed in her home last September. If the Deputy has any further queries regarding this matter he should contact the SEAI directly.
The SEAI recently held an information day for all members of the Oireachtas. Representatives from the Authority were on hand to explain the current range of schemes and programmes being managed by the Authority and to handle any queries that members had.
Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and a dedicated hot line can be reached at 1800 250 204. In addition, the SEAI has recently established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members which can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.
