Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 127: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the consultation which has taken place in respect of the proposed grant aid package on renewable energy; the number of groups-companies which were involved; the name of each; and when he expects to publish the package of grant aid. [9620/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The announcement on budget day of a five-year renewables package of €65 million underlines this Government's commitment to developing renewable energy potential. Under this package I intend to launch a range of innovative grant schemes relating to biofuels, combined heat and power, biomass commercial heaters and domestic heat grants. My Department in consultation with SEI, is currently developing a suite of programmes to rollout these initiatives. I intend to launch the domestic grants programme and biomass commercial heat programme in the coming weeks.

In developing the range of programmes, SEI commissioned a study by Tipperary Institute, which was completed by the end of January 2006 and included consultation with industry. In February SEI held a consultation workshop with industry exploring a range of issues relating to the roll-out of domestic grants. The workshop was attended by 71 people representing almost 60 different companies-organisations involved in the area, as detailed in the following table: