Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the fact that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is no longer supporting biomass or heat pump technologies and is still grant aiding gas and oil condensing burners (details supplied); when this charge was introduced; the reason this was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12637/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Better Energy grant levels have been set to ensure that the level of Exchequer support is in line with market prices. Since the Greener Homes Scheme and Home Energy Savings (HES) schemes were launched in 2006 and 2009 respectively, there have been substantial reductions in the prices being charged for most of the measures covered by the schemes, the exception being external insulation, which is a relatively new technology in Ireland.

The grants for renewable technologies were recast in September 2007, again in July 2008 (on foot of changes to Part L of the Building Regulations), and once more in early 2010. The grants were amended in order to reflect falling market prices and the need to keep Exchequer incentive levels at an appropriate level in relative terms.

Measures being supported under the Better Energy programme are those designed to deliver the greatest energy savings, maximising the value achieved from the available budget allocation. In terms of prioritising available resources the focus must be on measures which deliver the best value for money in energy terms and for the consumer. In this context, state support is best served by prioritising building fabric improvements, then space and water heating efficiency and finally renewables.

Support for biomass and heat pumps through the Greener Homes Scheme was designed to develop a mature and functioning market, which is now in place. In addition, there was a considerable administrative overhead given the number of applications that were processed under this scheme.

The grant available for a new oil or gas boiler represents a contribution to the additional cost incurred by the homeowner in choosing a high efficiency boiler (i.e. greater than 90% efficiency) versus the standard required by the building regulations (i.e. greater than 86% efficiency). The homeowner must also install heating controls in order to avail of the €160 subsidy.