Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The objective of the greener homes scheme is to stimulate consumer investment in renewable heating solutions and to develop the market for renewable energy technologies, thereby reducing CO2 emissions in the domestic sector.

Over 16,000 grants were approved under phase 1, which ran from April 2006 to August 2007. There is no waiting list. Some 6,600 of these applicants have completed installations and have received grant payments. A further 1,800 payment requests are being processed by Sustainable Energy Ireland. Over 8,000 applicants have received grant approval but have not yet requested grant payment.

Since the scheme was launched there has been a dramatic increase in renewable technology suppliers and a tenfold expansion in the number of renewable energy products available on the market. This clearly demonstrates the very significant level of market development since the scheme was first launched.

The first phase of the scheme has achieved all of its objectives speedily and within the overall budget. Consequently, the grant levels are being reduced for some technologies where it is clear that the market has reached a level of maturity to allow it to continue at a lower rate of support.

Other grant levels remain unchanged. Phase 1 of the greener homes scheme was concluded on Monday, 3 September. There was a pause of 28 days ahead of phase 2 being opened on 1 October. The pause of 28 days was required to allow space to process the remaining applications from phase 1 and to put in place all relevant administrative procedures, structures and details of the phase 2 scheme.

The objective in greener homes phase 2 is to consolidate the market, underpinning it with quality standards and training and providing for a long-term future that is not grant-dependent. The aim is to ensure that the market for these products, services and fuels continues to develop strongly, allowing suppliers and installers to consolidate their market offerings ahead of an unsubsidised market. It will also bridge the gap between the ending of phase 1 and the introduction of new building regulations which will further stimulate market uptake.

The new building regulations announced recently by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, will mandate the use of renewable heating systems in all new buildings which will provide a fundamental boost to these technologies.

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