Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of direct new jobs being created by the better energy homes scheme since it was introduced last year. [40742/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme which includes the Better Energy Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. In 2011 there was a total spend of over €91m on the Better Energy Programme of which €56.7m was allocated to Better Energy Homes. This supported the retention of up to 5,700 jobs for 2011 as a whole.

The Government has again committed significant funding of €76 million to the Better Energy Programme for 2012 of which €33m has been allocated to Better Energy Homes. It is important to emphasise that the Better Energy Programme will continue to underpin economic activity throughout this year and is expected to support the retention of approximately 4,000 jobs in the retrofitting sector.