Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 944: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grants available to a person who is building a house including solar panels; the way a person can avail of grants for solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28333/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 956: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce a grant aid scheme for wood log gasifiers; the steps he will take to support domestic renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28845/08]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 959: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the breakdown of the number of applicants to the greener homes scheme for every month since it began; the budget allocated for every month since the scheme began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29004/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 944, 956 and 959 together.

The Greener Homes Scheme provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of domestic renewable energy heating technologies including solar panels, biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps. Earlier this week I announced Phase III of the scheme which adds log gasification boilers as an eligible technology for grant support.

The other main change under Phase III of the scheme is that from now on only existing (at least one year old) houses will be eligible for support. The Building Regulations 2008, recently brought into force, make the inclusion of components of renewable energy in new homes compulsory.

The following table sets out the numbers of applicants received under the Greener Homes Scheme.

Payment of grant can be drawn down by applicants at any time within the twelve month period of validity once all conditions of the scheme are met. The payments on a monthly basis under the scheme since its inception are set out in the following table.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 945: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of companies that have been given permits for excise duty to produce bio-fuels; the number of companies that do not have permits and pay per litre in comparison to companies who have a permit for excise relief; the benefits of having a permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28334/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department does not grant permits for the production of bio-fuels. In 2005 and 2006 my Department held competitive calls for proposals for Bio-fuel Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes. The schemes were open to anyone who could fulfil the criteria laid out in the Guidance Notes which were provided to all applicants. There were specific limits on the amount of excise relief available under the various categories in each scheme and this was stipulated in the relevant Guidance Notes. The highest scoring applicants were successful in each competition.

There were 18 successful applicants in total and they have been granted excise relief on certain volumes of bio-fuel over the course of the schemes which run to 2010. The successful companies can produce a certain volume of bio-fuel on which they do not have to pay excise to the Revenue Commissioners. There are other bio-fuel producers in Ireland who are producing bio-fuel outside of the excise relief scheme. Details of the number of such companies would be a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. These data are not held in my Department.