Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider providing grant aid towards solar energy for first time buyers or young persons building their own homes; his views on the fact that current arrangements are unfair to such groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20466/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Greener Homes Scheme supports the installation by householders of renewable energy heating technologies including wood-pellet and chip stoves and boilers, gasification boilers, solar panels and geothermal heat pumps. The grant is a fixed amount, based upon the particular technology selected, towards the cost of purchase and installation of the chosen scheme. Products and installers must be selected from published Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) registered lists. The net number of applications from 2006 to date under the Scheme is 29,000. Nearly 25,000 installations have been completed under the Scheme. Exchequer funding to date has amounted to just under €62m.

The Greener Homes Scheme has created a stable market in domestic renewable energy technologies and has supported the development of the renewable heating industry.

The current phase of the scheme was launched in July 2008. New homes ceased to be eligible with the introduction of the new building regulations under which it is now compulsory to include a component of renewable energy in new housing developments.

The scheme is supporting a range of objectives, including more competitive offerings for the consumer, enhanced product standards, quality assurance and improved training standards and certainty for the renewable heating industry.

The third phase of the Greener Homes Scheme is limited to existing houses defined as residences that are over one year. This was introduced to align the scheme with the mandatory changes to Part L of the Building Regulations in 2008.