Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The energy conservation capital grant-in-aid to Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, in 2008 is €63 million. Within that envelope, the allocation for the greener homes scheme in 2008 is €28 million. Some €35 million is being allocated across the range of energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes managed by Sustainable Energy Ireland, including €5 million for the new home energy savings scheme and €2 million for the energy efficiency advisory programme for small and medium enterprises.

I am advised by SEI that analysis is under way on the level of demand across all programmes and schemes in 2007. In the case of the greener homes scheme, more than 9,000 definitive grant offers were made in 2007 and total expenditure under the scheme this year will be €28.2 million.

As the Deputy is aware, demand under the greener homes scheme has been exponential and continues strongly with 1,900 applications received to date — under phase 2 of the scheme. I fully expect the demand for the programmes and services of SEI to continue to grow in 2008 and continue into the future.

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