Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount his Department spends on the Renewable Energy Information Office; the way this office differs from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31101/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Up to early 2012, SEAI operated an outsourced service based in County Cork known as the Renewable Energy Information Office, REIO. The office delivered a range of information services including a contact centre for queries on renewable energy, organising training and awareness events and collating information resources for a range of stakeholders.

In order to achieve budgetary savings this renewable energy information function was moved in-house to SEAI in 2012. While the changeover has resulted in reduced activity in periodic publications and training events, SEAI retains a capacity to respond to renewable energy queries and is continually enhancing its online resources on renewable energy. The budget for this activity in 2013 is €0.050 million.