Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Pat Rabbitte.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
IFI, while recognising that there is some off peak demand for the lakes in question, must, in
common with all public sector bodies, operate responsibly within overall budgetary constraints.
As part of the balance between these constraints and assessed demand, it is necessary to manage
the lakes within the resources available and in that context it is not currently in a position
to open the lakes referred to by the Deputy any earlier than proposed.
Post Office Network
389. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources the number of rural post offices in each county in each of the past five years; and if
he will make a statement on the matter. [7616/12]
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte): Post
office network issues are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and
one in which I have no statutory function.
Energy Conservation
390. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources if there are applications for the warmer homes scheme operated by Sustainable
Energy Authority of Ireland made in 2010 by applicants in County Kildare that have not yet
been approved or if approved have not been carried out; the reason such delays are occurring
in County Kildare; if he will indicate the number of cases outstanding in County Kildare since
2010 or earlier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7640/12]
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte): Better
Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are
vulnerable to energy poverty with a total of 20,388 being addressed in 2011. The scheme is
managed on behalf of my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
and delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a
panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage.
In 2010, 1,318 homes were completed in County Kildare, with a further 377 completions in
2011. Of the four homes outstanding since 2010 in Kildare, the SEAI has not been able to
make contact with two of the homes, resulting in one cancellation to date.
One further home only proved eligibility in October 2011 and was formally added to the
waiting list at that time. The final home has been confirmed as eligible for the scheme and has
been scheduled for survey. The SEAI further advises that as of 31 December 2011 there were
216 applicants from County Kildare on the waiting list.
2012 will mark a shift in emphasis on the Better Energy: Warmer Homes scheme to take
account of the Government’s Affordable Energy Strategy, which I launched last November.
Heretofore, applicants were considered eligible for retrofit measures if they met defined
criteria, such as eligibility for the National Fuel Scheme. All successful applicants were placed
on a waiting list and addressed in rotation. The focus in 2012 will shift to addressing those
households considered in extreme energy poverty as a priority; such households typically spend
over 20% of their disposable income on energy services. This will ensure that those most in
need receive the benefit of energy efficiency measures first.
Departmental Staff
391. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and
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