Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the annual cost of the house of tomorrow grant scheme, delivered through Sustainable Energy Ireland on an annual basis from the date the scheme started; the number of units of housing built under the scheme for each year for which figures are supplied; the smallest, the average and the largest individual payment made in each year under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41245/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Sustainable Energy Ireland's House of Tomorrow Programme stimulates the widespread uptake of more sustainable energy planning, design, specification and construction practices in both the new home building and the home improvement markets. The House of Tomorrow Programme funds demonstration projects to create a nationwide network of accessible, replicable model examples of more sustainable energy practices in Irish housing.

In all cases commitments entered into in any one calendar year may be (and are often likely to be) discharged over that year and/or subsequent years.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the annual cost of the warmer homes scheme delivered through Sustainable Energy Ireland on an annual basis from the date the scheme started; the number of units of housing adapted under the scheme for each year for which figures are supplied; the smallest, the average and the largest individual payment made in each year under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41246/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Fuel poverty has a major impact on people's lives in terms of affordable comfort, health and the quality of the home and is experienced in private and social housing alike, both urban and rural. Sustainable Energy Ireland's Low-Income Housing Programme (LIH) targets those homes that experience fuel poverty.

Low-income householders are unable to afford the capital investment measures that would improve the energy quality of their homes. SEI's LIH Programme was set up to help establish and implement a national plan of action to address this problem systematically. Core delivery is through its Warmer Homes Scheme aimed at improving the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of affected homes.

In all cases commitments entered into in any one calendar year may be (and are often likely to be) discharged over that year and/or subsequent years.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the annual cost of the bioheat boiler deployment programme, delivered through Sustainable Energy Ireland on an annual basis from the date the scheme started; the number of boilers fitted under the scheme for each year for which figures are supplied; the smallest, the average and the largest individual payment made in each year under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41247/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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On 7 June 2006 I launched the Bioheat Programme which is a grant aid scheme of up to €22m for commercial renewable heat technologies. The scheme allows companies and small businesses to obtain grants for the installation of wood chip and wood pellet boilers in large buildings and commercial premises. Grant aid of up to 30% of overall costs is being made available depending on the overall size of the project. The scheme is being rolled out over a five year period and will potentially support the conversion to renewable energy in up to 600 installations depending on overall project sizes.

Since the scheme was launched there has been a commitment made to provide funding to 17 projects and payments will commence shortly.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the annual cost of the combined heat and power deployment programme delivered through Sustainable Energy Ireland on an annual basis from the date the scheme started; the number of CHP systems installed under the scheme for each year for which figures are supplied; the smallest, the average and the largest individual payment made in each year under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41248/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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On 3 August 2006 I launched an €11m grants package for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to encourage industry and commercial users to generate their own electricity and heat. CHP units simultaneously generate heat and electricity in a single process on site. By combining these processes CHP saves around 25% of the energy that would have been required to produce electricity in a conventional power station and heat in separate heat-only boilers. The scheme is providing grant support to assist the deployment of small-scale fossil fired CHP (up to 1MWe) and biomass CHP systems.

Since the scheme was launched offers of funding have been made to three projects and payments will commence shortly.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the annual cost of the public and commercial sector scheme, delivered through Sustainable Energy Ireland, on an annual basis from the date the scheme started; the number of public bodies assisted through the scheme for each year for which figures are provided; the smallest, the average and the largest individual payment made in each year under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41249/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Sustainable Energy Ireland Public Sector Programme promotes energy efficient design, technologies and services in new and retrofit public sector projects. Under this programme, the energy performance of public sector buildings is enhanced through improved design, investment and management.

The programme supports projects that act as examples of good practice. It recognises the diversity of buildings and the potential for improvement, and it has the capacity to influence other sectors of the economy. The programme has three funding elements:

The Design Study Support Scheme provides support for professional expertise to examine the technical and economic feasibility of design and technology solutions

The Model Solutions Investment Support Scheme supports energy management and technology solutions in existing buildings and new build specifications

The Energy Management Bureau supports outsourced energy management services to manage energy usage and to identify and implement energy-related projects

In all cases commitments entered into in any one calendar year may be (and are often likely to be) discharged over that year and/or subsequent years.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the annual cost of the renewable energy research development and demonstration programme for each year from the dare the scheme started to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41250/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The goal of Sustainable Energy Ireland's Renewable Energy Research, Development and Demonstration (RERDD) Programme is to accelerate the deployment rate of renewable energy technology in the Irish market.

This is achieved by providing support for product R&D, market demonstration activity and studies to investigate market barriers. This programme provides support for technologies to harness wind and ocean energy, an example being wind turbine component manufacturing. Through support for technology demonstrators, such as in the area of liquid biofuels, information is gained regarding their cost and potential to contribute to Ireland's strategic energy goals.

The programme also supports public-good studies that provide assistance to renewable energy sectors in Ireland. Research in this area covers topics such as resource, economic and technical market studies.

In all cases commitments entered into in any one calendar year may be (and are often likely to be) discharged over that year and/or subsequent years.