Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

We are back to an issue which caused controversy last year when we did not have sufficient levels of capital set aside for phase one of the demand-led greener homes scheme. At the time, I was extremely unhappy, as were others in Opposition, that to bail out Sustainable Energy Ireland and ensure the bills committed to the greener homes scheme would be paid the Minister needed to find money from other areas within his Department such as broadband schemes and a research budget.

At the time, the Opposition clearly stated it did not want this mistake to be made the following year. Here we see less money allocated for 2008 than was spent in 2007 for a scheme which continues to grow and is becoming more popular among house owners and home-makers according to Sustainable Energy Ireland.

Last year we got it wrong in a major way and had to reallocate approximately 40% extra to pay the bills for the greener homes scheme. It is still a demand-led scheme which does not have a cap. Is the Minister satisfied that next August we will not have to find money from other areas in the Department to bail out Sustainable Energy Ireland for a second time in what is a successful, attractive and sensible scheme for making houses more energy efficient? I am concerned that we have not allocated enough money. The allocation for 2008 represents a cut from 2007.

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