Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Based on the latest available data our greenhouse gas emissions were an estimated 70 million tonnes. We are committed to reducing our emissions to an annual average of 63 million tonnes over the period 2008 to 2012. The EPA has projected that, based on measures already taken and those already planned, the annual average emissions will now be higher than previously claimed. In the budget last year we introduced significant changes to begin the process of moving to a lower carbon intensive economy. This year we intend to build on those steps.

We must learn to use energy more efficiently. The Government can play a role in improving energy efficiency in our homes. To that end we are providing additional funding for a number of measures. We will allocate €20 million for the home energy saving scheme in 2009, an increase of €15 million on 2008. This will provide grants of up to 30% of the cost of retrofitting homes. This scheme will increase energy efficiency and lead to carbon savings.

This scheme complements the warmer homes scheme which provides insulation and energy advice to households in receipt of various social welfare benefits. The Exchequer will provide €5 million for this scheme in 2009 and this will be supplemented by funds from industry. We are also introducing a new scheme to examine the potential for energy savings in local authority housing stock through the retrofitting of older heating systems with new green energies.

There are several taxation measures in this area also and I will deal with them shortly. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will deal with climate change policy in more detail in his carbon budget which he will present to the House tomorrow.

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