Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of jobs that were created and supported in 2013 through the energy efficiency measures promised in the Action Plan for Jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4186/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Energy Efficiency is an established services sector in Ireland, one that is labour intensive and represents a great opportunity for business and the public sector to reduce costs, improve competitiveness and thereby protect and support jobs. The potential of energy efficiency in terms of the delivery of jobs is underscored by the inclusion of the objective of transforming Ireland into one of the most energy efficient economies in Europe by 2020 in the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ).

Our APJ activity focuses on the delivery of the National Energy Services Framework (NESF) and the establishment of an Energy Efficiency Fund as well as supporting businesses to reduce their energy costs and remain competitive. The progress across all of this activity was significant during 2013. The NESF is published and is being utilised by a group of exemplar projects in the public and commercial sectors. An Energy Performance Contracting model is being used by the exemplar projects which are at varying stages of development and due to be implemented this year. I will not have a figure for jobs involved for 2013 until mid-February but, according to the SEAI, jobs in the sector are likely to have averaged 3,500 over the past 3 years. Moreover, the combined number of jobs that are being supported through the delivery of the Better Energy Programme by SEAI, which provides grant assistance for energy efficiency assessments and upgrades in the residential, community and commercial sectors, is estimated to be 2,300.