Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2012
419 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the better energy homes scheme, under the auspices of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, was established; the number of grants allocated by year to date in 2012; if applications have decreased since the decrease in the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29370/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme. Exchequer funding of €76.146 million has been allocated to the Better Energy Programme in 2012, which is projected to deliver 524GWh in energy savings. The Better Energy Homes scheme provides financial assistance to householders 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.
Since the scheme commenced in March 2009 the SEAI has disbursed over €137.5 million in grants and supported the installation of over 319,000 measures in 126,761 homes. From the start of the year through to 31 May 2012 the scheme has disbursed over €18.5 million in grants and supported the installation of 45,814 measures in 16,489 homes. SEAI informs me that there has been a significant decrease in the number of new applications to the scheme, to date in 2012. The SEAI has prepared an analysis that suggests that there are a number of factors that have impacted upon the level of new applications including milder weather, reduced capital available to homeowners and potentially the reduction in grants.
In relation to the reduction in some grant levels, it should be noted that grant applications have decreased across all measures, not just those where the grant support was reduced. It is also worth noting that applications for Better Energy: Warmer Homes, a free scheme, have decreased along a similar trend over the same period. I recently approved a reallocation within the Better Energy budget on foot of these trends and have increased the budget for Better Energy: Warmer Homes and Better Energy Workplaces. This will increase the energy savings achievable from the current allocation, while also providing energy efficiency upgrades to more low-income homes.
