Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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149. To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the fact that the €5 billion originally ring-fenced in the €315 billion Juncker investment plan for energy efficiency projects is not going ahead, his plans to secure or ring-fence similar funding for the same purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17592/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Ireland's national approach on Energy efficiency policy is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The EFSI regulation is still under negotiation with Trilogues ongoing with the European Parliament at present. While development of the energy sector is mentioned as one of the areas to be supported by EFSI, ring fencing of funds for energy efficiency or any other sector was not part of the original Commission proposal nor has it been part of the position agreed by Council before the start of negotiations with the European Parliament. EFSI is proposed to operate on the basis of supporting projects through investments rather than grants and the provision of guarantees.