Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the funding for the energy saving upgrades at a heritage centre (details supplied) in County Donegal which was promised in 2007, will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42700/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I am informed by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) that no funding application was received from the Colmcille Heritage Centre in 2007. However, I understand that the Centre is seeking to establish if any funding is available for improving the level of energy performance.

There are no grant programmes available at present to support an upgrade to the building. However, the Centre may apply to SEI for a grant for the installation of a renewable heat supply (e.g. wood chip boilers, solar thermal or heat pumps) under the Renewable Heat Deployment Programme (Reheat) or for the installation of a small scale fossil-fired combined heat and power (CHP) or biomass CHP system under the CHP Deployment Programme. Further details are available from the SEI website (www.sei.ie).

In addition, I have provided €4 million to SEI in 2008 for a range of energy advice and support programmes to the non-residential sector, including a new advice and mentoring programme for SMEs. I have asked SEI to make contact with the Centre to offer their services.