Written answers

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Alternative Energy Projects

9:00 pm

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 9 December 2008, the location of the regional pilots for the home energy saving scheme launched in April 2008; the success to date of the pilot scheme; the date the scheme will be launched nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46293/08]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I launched the pilot phase of the Home Energy Saving Scheme in March 2008 in Counties Limerick (excluding Limerick City), Clare and North Tipperary and in Dundalk. The pilot phase also included a Cluster Strand, which accepted group applicants from anywhere within Ireland.

The pilot phase has successfully established a strong case for a full national scheme. It has shown that there is a considerable appetite for such a scheme among not only potential applicant households, but also building energy rating assessors, product manufacturers, installers and other market actors.

The data gathered during the pilot phase confirms that there is an attractive return on investment from upgrading efficiency measures in older homes, both for the exchequer and the householder. Targeted supports can bring a house from an F-rating starting point on the Building Energy Rating scale to a D2 rating. This represents an energy saving of up to €700 per year for each house, equating to reduced carbon emissions of 3 tonnes per year.

I am making €20 million available for the scheme next year and expect to be in a position to make an announcement on the commencement of the national scheme in the near future.

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