I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
The Better Energy Homes scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and provides financial assistance to householders who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes, saving money, improving comfort and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. 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.
Since commencement in March 2009 the scheme has disbursed over €119m in grants and supported the installation of over 300,000 such measures in almost 120,000 homes.
All works carried out under the scheme must be done by installers registered with the SEAI on the basis of a number of prescribed requirements including:-Vouched tax compliance; Vouched insurance cover to undertake works; As appropriate to the measures to be completed, vouched accreditation by NSAI Agrément and RGII; Commitment to undertaking works in accordance with the Contractors Technical Specification and Code of Practice; Commitment to using a contract for all jobs undertaken in the scheme; Full cooperation with the quality assurance scheme; Commitment to detailed terms and conditions set out on registration form.
At the end of 2010 there were 2,756 contractors registered under the scheme, with 2,888 registered at the end of 2011. The numbers vary over the course of any given year on the basis of contractors choosing to continue participation or not. Registrations also automatically lapse when tax clearance or insurance requirements expire. Continued registration is also predicated on full compliance with all requirements under the scheme.
Registration to the scheme is implemented on the SEAI's behalf by an outsourced entity, managed by the SEAI and appointed through public procurement. In order to verify compliance with the requisite standards, under the scheme, SEAI implements a technical inspection regime in accordance with SEAI's detailed Quality Assurance and Disciplinary Procedure. A percentage of properties are inspected by suitably qualified personnel, in accordance with published checklists, to ascertain compliance with relevant aspects of the Technical Specification and Code of Practice. The technical inspections are undertaken by a private company, appointed through public procurement and managed directly by SEAI.
In 2010, 2,497 properties were inspected comprising 3,975 upgrade measures. In 2011 inspectors reviewed 5,274 properties comprising 8,336 measures. The overall technical inspection rate for the scheme has been around 11% of installations. The rate of inspections and the targeting of inspections is being enhanced by SEAI to ensure, among other requirements, that both large and small or new contractors are appropriately and proportionately covered under the technical inspection regime.
While technical inspections are largely, but not exclusively, focused on quality assurance, SEAI is currently implementing much greater use of prepayment verification inspections across all categories of installations and contractors as well as a programme of ongoing enhancement of scheme assurances and controls.
The imperative for ongoing rigorous assessment and enhancement of scheme controls and inspections and audit regimes for all Exchequer grant aid programmes is underlined by SEAI's statement last month that the Authority has identified a number of irregularities associated with one contractor under the Better Energy Homes Scheme. The contractor has been deregistered from the scheme and all related payments suspended pending the outcome of further investigations that are underway. The matter has been referred to An Garda Síochána, and to legal advisors regarding the recovery of monies.
