Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of all of the social housing schemes for which his Department made funding level adjustments in order to eliminate duplication where funding was provided by Sustainable Energy Ireland for energy efficiency measures, detailing in all cases, the scheme name, proposed scheme funding and scheme funding after Sustainable Energy Ireland grants were accounted for. [22576/06]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of all of the social housing schemes for which his Department made funding level adjustments in order to eliminate duplication where funding was provided by Sustainable Energy Ireland for energy efficiency measures, detailing in all cases, the scheme name, proposed scheme funding and scheme funding after Sustainable Energy Ireland grants were accounted for. [22849/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 140 and 417 together.

It is my understanding that a downward adjustment of €150,000 has been proposed in the pre-tender budget cost approval notified to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in respect of the construction of 43 units at Benamore, Newtownpark Avenue to reflect an anticipated grant for energy efficiency measures from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). Tender proposals in respect of this scheme have not yet been received in my Department.

Due to the time and associated cost involved I do not propose to request my Department to examine all housing scheme files to establish whether or not any financial adjustments have been made in the past in respect of grants that may have been received by local authorities from SEI. If any such adjustments were made it is very likely that it involved a small number of projects.

My Department supports and encourages the adoption of new technology and innovative approaches to design and construction of dwellings aimed at improving productivity and enhancing quality and performance of new dwellings. Where such proposals include the provision of additional energy efficiency measures these will be examined by my Department on their merits from the point of view of efficiency/ cost benefit considerations. Furthermore my Department has been in contact with SEI to indicate that in the interests of administrative efficiency the cost of using energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies in local authority and voluntary housing developments will be borne as part of the capital cost of proposed schemes without having to have recourse to SEI grant assistance. This will be formalised shortly with SEI and notified to local authorities.