The Government has been lashed over its handling of the Home Energy Saving Scheme. The broadside has come for the Fine Gael spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Michael Ring, who said details of the scheme should not have been announced until it was ready to be implemented. The green light for the scheme was given at the beginning of February but householders cannot apply until later this month.
Dep Ring, in a Dáil question, asked when applications can be received for the scheme. In his reply the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Sean Power said: “On February 8, together with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Minister launched the Home Energy Saving Scheme, one of three priority home insulation schemes in the Government’s National Insulation Programme for Economic Recovery. The Home Energy Saving scheme has an allocation of €50 million for 2009. The scheme provides grant assistance to homeowners for attic and wall insulation, efficient boilers and heating controls. Grant rates average 30 per cent of the cost of works, although these rates vary depending on the measure concerned. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI ) advised on the measures for inclusion in the scheme and they will also administer the scheme. SEI has built up a considerable expertise on residential energy efficiency matters and oversaw the pilot phase of the scheme last year.
“The selected measures are deemed to be those most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners at the least cost. There are other measures, such as windows, which are not currently included in the scheme. These may also improve the energy performance of a home but may not be as cost effective for the homeowner. The Department and SEI will be keeping the scheme under review. If there is a strong cost-benefit case for adding other measures to the scheme, it will be given every consideration.”
Dep Ring commented: “Ministers should not be making announcements about schemes until the scheme is actually ready to start and they have the full details of the scheme prepared. There is total confusion among people regarding this scheme. This is typical form of the present Government. They need to get their act together and gain the confidence the public. The scheme in itself is highly beneficial but householders are left baffled and confused over the start-up date.”
