James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will make up the shortfall of 50% in Budget 2008 for energy efficient initiatives. [35408/07]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will explain the 50% cut in funding for energy efficiency initiatives announced in Budget 2008; the initiatives that were funded under this programme in 2007; the initiatives that will be funded under this programme in 2008; the funding allocation in each year of each programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35471/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 115 together. Far from there being a shortfall for energy efficiency initiatives in Budget 2008, I announced additional funding for insulation, energy building rating schemes together with the energy efficiency programme for SMEs. This is in line with the Government's commitment to radically enhance energy efficiency in the interests of environmental sustainability and competitiveness. I am making some €63 million in total available in 2008 for energy conservation measures, together with a further €13 million for energy research and development initiatives. The €63 million funding for energy conservation measures, which is more than twice the original 2007 REV allocation for this area, will fund Sustainable Energy Ireland's programmes in the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy. These include the House of Tomorrow Programme, the Public Sector Programme, the Industry Programme, the Low Income Housing Programme, the Greener Homes Scheme and many other smaller programmes.

The separate Subhead entitled "Energy Efficiency Initiatives" exclusively relates to the funding for the National energy efficiency awareness campaign, Power of One. The level of funding of €2.5 million in this subhead will meet the remaining contractual commitment in 2008 for the Power of One campaign, which was launched in 2006. Some €4.9 million has been spent on the campaign in 2007. The overall contractual commitment for 2006–2008 is €10 million.