Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that registered contractors within the home energy saving scheme have been given advice through Sustainable Energy Ireland to purchase heating boilers at a reduced price in Northern Ireland; his views on whether this is appropriate advice for a Government scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16695/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is responsible for the administration of the Home Energy Saving scheme (HES) which opened for homeowner applications towards the end of March this year. SEI has operated a rigorous registration process for contractors, which requires contractors to commit to a number of very stringent conditions, among them: tax compliance, certified insurance cover, demonstrated technical competence for the specified energy efficiency measures, commitment to a professional Code of Practice, and commitment to use a contract with homeowners on all jobs. Already over 1,300 contractors have registered across the range of measures supported.

The scheme does not register products/materials but specifies the appropriate and relevant standards to which the products must comply. Contractors are free to choose their supplier on the basis of their own particular economic and business needs. Under EU rules it would not be permissible to prescribe that such products and materials be purchased solely within the State. It is also the case that, in many instances there may not as yet exist a sufficient domestic manufacturing base for certain products/materials. SEI provides factual advice to contractors on a range of matters and would not be actively recommending the sourcing of products outside the State. In the final analysis it is a matter for individual contractors to choose their source of products and materials which meet the required standard.

One of the targeted outcomes from the Home Energy Savings Scheme is a robust and competitive supply market that gives consumers quality choice and best value. The Scheme creates considerable potential opportunity for the Irish energy services sector to identify and address gaps in the product supply chain.