Mentoring...

A key element of Sustainable Energy Ireland's "Low Income Housing Programme" is the provision of guidance and advice to organisations applying for funding from pre-application through to the operational phase on all aspects of organisational development and operation. The programme is also supported by partnership building activities and an ongoinig information and awareness raising programme.

The principle tasks of the LIHP Mentoring programme are to :

1. Identify and work with community based and other organisations to develop new energy efficiency installation services in geographical locations identified by SEI to be strategically important.
2. To provide ongoing advice and support to organisation seeking funding from the point of application to fund to the deployment of operational programme.
3. Provide advice and assistance on a day-to-day basis to organisations operating through the project. This includes advising on operational, procedural and technical aspects of the work and operating an induction programme for newly appointed community based installers.

The mentoring programme is divided into five phases;

1. Phase One; Outreach
2. Phase Two: Engagement,
   
3. Phase Three; Application
   
4. Phase Four; Start up
   
5. Phase Five; Progression

Energy Action's Mentoring Team:

Charles Roarty, General Manager, Energy Action

An accountant by profession, Charlie is a founding member of Energy Action and has grown the organisation from a two person operation to its present organisation that has pioneered the responses to low income and fuel poverty in Ireland.

Jack Kelly, Administrator

Jack works half time with Energy Action since taking early retirement from RTE where he held a variety of positions including developing administrative systems for 2FM and the Light Entertainment Section of RTE Radio. Jack's role in Energy Action is to develop and maintain administrative systems. He will oversee the application of appropriate administrative systems for the successful management of the programme.

Paddy Bray, Head of Training

Paddy joined Energy Action 11 years ago as an installer and has progressed to be in charge of training in the organisation. Paddy has established EA as a recognised training centre for City and Guilds, NCVA and FETAC Programmes and is a recognised Assessor and Verifier for City and Guilds and NCVA FETAC training programmes. Paddy oversees the training of LIHP personnel and oversees the LIHP Quality Control Programme.

Seamus Mooney, Head of Production

Shay joined Energy Action as a driver 9 years ago and since then has become the head of production where he oversees four crews. Shay is also a trained instructor in ECDL and is an Assessor for City and Guilds and NCVA Training programmes. Shay provides ongoing support to local delivery agents (LDAs) and is also an Assessor of production and Quality Control.

Rafael Saniternik, IT

Rafael joined Energy Action in November 2005 and is the youngest member of the team. Rafael currently manages the IT systems of Energy Action including maintenance of their website (www.energyaction.ie). He will maintain the ICT network that will monitor and support the programme.

Programme Resource Personnel:

Dr Bill Sheldrick

Bill has worked with Energy Action since the early 1990's, initially as a mentor while he was the head of Research in Heatwise in Glasgow, and subsequently as an adviser to Energy Action since he established the specialist consultancy, Alembic Research, in 1994. Amongst many other activities, Bill is special advisor to the Scottish Executive on its Central Heating Programme. Bill is a recognised authority in energy auditing, and has extensive field work experience in Ireland. Alembic Research was one of the partners with Energy Action in the EU SAVE II the Irish Home Energy Rating project.

Bill provides technical advice to the LDAs as required especially for the development of Local Domestic Profiles and Energy Plans.

Billy Murphy

Billy has worked as an advisor with Energy Action since its first EU funded "Energy Enterprises" programme in 1993 and works as a design and management consultant on a number EU funded programmes addressing marginalised social groups. Billy also designed and co-ordinated a 4 year EU programme "Youth Mentoring" mainstreamed by FÁS in 2002. Billy Provides Organisational Mentoring management services to Energy Action and develops and maintains a reporting and monitoring system for the programme.

Michael Hanratty

Michael is an electrical engineer with 20 years experience working for the ESB, most recently as a marketing manager with responsibility for ESB's residential and business customers. He specialised in developing ESB's energy efficiency programmes and negotiated ESB's energy efficiency programmes, including its fuel poverty programme, with the Commission for Energy Regulation. In his new role as an independent consultant, Michael is currently working with ESB International and Energy Action on energy efficiency projects. Michael's role is to develop and support Local Advisory Groups with a particular interest in Energy Awareness in the Community. He also provides training on surveying and energy awarenes for LIHP participants.