Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the nature and outcome of any value for money audit carried out by his Department during the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25701/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The following is the position regarding Value for Money (VFM) reviews carried out by my Department during the past three years: Expenditure review of the Sustainable Energy Priority of the ESIOP -Report published and laid before Oireachtas Committee in July 2006. The Group Broadband Scheme — Report published and laid before Oireachtas Committee in December 2007. Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Phase 1 — Report published and laid before Oireachtas Committee in July 2008.

Recommendations from the VFM review of the 'Sustainable Energy Priority of the ESIOP' assisted in the establishment of the 'Greener Homes Scheme', which has a total spend to end 2008, of €55.145m and is estimated to contribute to substantial CO2 savings of 40,000 tonnes per annum.

The 'Group Broadband Scheme' operated from March 2004 to December 2006. The recommendations from the VFM review substantially contributed to the greater efficiency and effectiveness in expenditure under the new National Broadband Scheme, which aims to deliver broadband services to consumers and businesses located in parts of the country that have no form of broadband available at present.

Phase 1 of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) programme completed delivery of open access, high-speed broadband networks to 27 towns and cities throughout the country. Construction of Phase 2 of the MANs Programme commenced in 2005 and 64 towns are now complete with construction under way in two further towns. Projects in a further 28 towns originally selected under Phase 2 have been suspended. The VFM review of Phase I of the MANs Programme, which was published in July 2008, pointed to issues which warranted consideration in the context of future investment in MANs. Any future investment in new MANs will take account of the recommendations of the VFM review and availability of resources.

Under the current round of the Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative 2008-10, the Department put forward two areas for review, namely the Greener Homes Scheme and the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI). The review of Greener Homes is currently under way and the objective is to analyse what has been achieved by public expenditure in this area and to inform future policy regarding the rationale for and design of future sustainable energy market interventions. The review of the GSI will be conducted in 2010 and will examine the demand for and supply of GSI geological advice and information.