Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the training requirements which are being considered for approval of plumbers as installers of solar panels under the new domestic renewable energy grant scheme; his views on the time difficulty that existing plumbers might experience in attending such a training programme; his response to industry operators who argue that the installation of such systems is a relatively simple matter for a qualified plumber and that training requirements should be delivered on a flexible basis. [14442/06]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 337: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of houses he expects will take up the domestic solar panel heating grant scheme; and the long-term strategy for promoting such systems in new and existing Irish homes. [14443/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together.

The domestic grants scheme is being rolled out on behalf of my Department by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI. Verification of an installer's qualifications is the responsibility of each applicant but SEI requires that applicants must use installers who have registered with SEI. From quality assurance and safety perspectives, this requirement is critical to the scheme. It is open to any installer to request that they be placed on SEI's list. Installers who wish to register must sign a statement of compliance indicating willingness to comply with directions resulting from any inspections of appliances, willingness to agree to dispute resolution between installers and consumers, and provision of a valid tax clearance certificate. The installer may also provide information on a voluntary basis, including case studies detailing previous installations, customer references and details of training and relevant certification in the installation of renewable technologies. I do not agree that installation of renewable technologies is relatively simple.

The availability of trained and certified installers is a crucial element of the quality assurance mechanism of the programme and SEI is also working to develop and establish courses for the training and certification of installers. As a first step, SEI and Action Renewables in Northern Ireland are undertaking a joint INTERREG-funded initiative, which provides 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. This will provide a platform to support the further development of a national training and certification infrastructure, which will be sufficiently flexible to allow access for existing installers. Once the relevant infrastructure is in place, it is the intention that all installers will avail of certification from a recognised training course or body to remain on the list. I expect industry operators and their representatives to engage in discussion with SEI about the operation of the training schemes and the requisite standards.

The scheme is being rolled out over a five-year period and it is anticipated that it will support the conversion to renewable energy in over 10,000 homes. It is too early to determine the number of houses that will avail of the grants specifically for solar heating. The programme is designed to stimulate the market for renewable energy products in the domestic sector and is part of a wider policy imperative to increase public awareness and uptake of sustainable energy. Solar energy is an important part of policy development in the built environment and is also assisted through SEI's house of tomorrow programme, which is targeted at housing developers.