Written answers

Thursday, 6 April 2006

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Alternative Energy Projects

5:00 am

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the proposals which exist for increasing the number of certified installers of renewable heat systems that qualify for the new domestic renewable energy grants; and the reason the support measures for solar panels under this scheme are based on the size of the panels rather than on their relative efficiency standards. [13749/06]

Photo of John BrowneJohn Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The domestic grants scheme is being rolled out on behalf of the Department by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI. The availability of trained and certified installers is an important element of the quality assurance mechanism and the grant scheme in general. SEI is facilitating consumers by maintaining a list of installers who qualify for use under the scheme.

Actions to increase this number in the near term include running an advertisement in the national daily newspapers on 3 April 2006 and in industry-specific publications thereafter. SEI and Action Renewables, Northern Ireland, are currently involved in a North-South INTERREG funded initiative, which is providing for the development and delivery of renewable energy installer training courses in the INTERREG region. The first training courses under the programme are already under way and this will provide a platform in the longer term to support the development of a national training and certification infrastructure.

The level of grant aid for the programme reflects a strong Government commitment to encourage people to install renewable heat technology in their homes. The mechanism for supporting solar systems in particular recognises that the level of water or space heating that can be achieved in any home is directly related to the size or number of panels installed.

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