Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 964: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the value for money review of the energy conservation and alternative scheme was completed; the value of savings to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27132/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department undertook a Value for Money and Policy Review of the Sustainable Energy Priority of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The review was published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in July 2006.

The Review was set in the context of the difficulties faced by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) at that time in achieving full expenditure of their annual capital allocations under the Operational Programme. As a consequence of this, the Mid Term Review of the Operational Programme recommended significant reductions and reallocations in the amounts provided to the Priority measure. The Value for Money and Policy Review found that many of the programmes being run by SEI were in fact maturing as the recently established organisation worked to build capacity and systems. It was recommended that these be given time to develop and become fully operational before any further funding decisions were made. The Review also found that SEI's programmes were in line with international best practice in the field.