Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
354. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will detail the reasons for the refusal of payment of a better energy homes scheme grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork for the installation of solar heating panels and if he will confirm if it is possible to have the decision reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53916/12]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes scheme under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides financial assistance to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying BER.
I am informed that the SEAI wrote to the applicant after receipt of the grant forms on the 8 November 2012 to inform the applicant that they were rejected as information regarding the energy yield was omitted from the forms submitted. When the homeowner returned the forms the energy yield was in order of magnitude outside the expected performance range. The SEAI wrote to the applicant on this basis on 23 November 2012 stating that the grant payment could not be paid as the solar heating system did not meet the minimum performance standards of the scheme and is outside the reasonable performance range of a system of its size.
In the letter the SEAI recommended that the applicant review their claim documentation in consultation with their contractor and if, subsequent to this, they remained dissatisfied with the decision, they should re-submit it for review by the SEAI Appeals Panel. To date the applicant has not re-submitted the application for review to the SEAI Appeals Panel. I am informed that if the applicant now wishes to consult with their contractor and submit revised performance details, the SEAI will review the application under their standard appeals process. 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 established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members, which can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly.
