Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on selecting County Tipperary for the use of its renewable energy resources following a joint submission made to the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Job Creation by North Tipperary County Council and South Tipperary County Council; the feasibility of locating renewable energy projects in the Tipperary renewable energy area, including the establishment of a solarteur school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36048/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government is committed to developing both domestic and commercial scale renewable technologies and has introduced a range of measures designed to increase market penetration of renewable energy in the heat, transport and electricity sectors. The grant programmes are not specific to any one county but are open to anyone who can fulfil the required criteria. The Deputy will also be aware that the another project in the same Local Authority Area, Cloughjordan Eco Village, has been in receipt of funding under both the House of Tomorrow Programme and the general Renewable Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Programme.

The programme aimed at domestic renewable heating is the Greener Homes Scheme (GHS), which is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), and provides grant support to individuals wishing to install renewable energy heating technologies in their homes. This scheme, in operation since early 2006, has already established a very strong supply industry for renewable energy products, services and fuels while the application of strict product standards and installer training and quality schemes has ensured that consumers are informed in relation to their choices. All installers must be registered with SEI, be qualified and certified in each technology that they are registered in and have achieved certification from an accredited training course in each of the technology areas they wish to work in.

In order to qualify as a registered installer, including for Solar, technicians have to complete a training course with FÁS, which is available at 8 locations around the country, including County Tipperary.