Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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750. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason fossil fuel heating systems are continuing to be promoted with grants of up to 50% by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland through their home and community energy efficiency grant programmes, Better Energy Homes and Better Energy Communities, while there is no additional support or incentive to install renewable heat or renewable electricity alternatives. [10352/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Better Energy Programme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Under the Better Energy Homes (BEH) scheme, the grant available for an oil or gas boiler upgrade is limited to €100, a small contribution, and is only available when the upgrade is carried out along with the installation of heating controls. Heating controls are an extremely effective way of saving energy and using less fuel. The incentive of a grant for a new boiler is aimed at making the public aware of the grant supports available from SEAI and introducing them to the much wider set of energy efficiency measures they could undertake with SEAI support. SEAI are, at present, carrying out a full review of the technologies that are supported under the BEH scheme. This will consider the range of technologies that are available to deliver energy savings and look at where Government support will be most effective.

While the Better Energy Programme has been extremely successful in encouraging homeowners to carry out energy efficiency works, the majority of savings have come from lower cost, more accessible measures such as attic insulation and energy conservation campaigns. Tackling these easier, cheaper measures first is a sensible approach and it has done a great deal to raise awareness of energy efficiency. Now, with the aim of putting Ireland on realistic trajectory to 2030 and 2050 climate and energy targets, as outlined in the recently published National Mitigation Plan briefing document, the depth of energy efficiency upgrades needs to increase.

Under the Better Energy Communities  (BEC) scheme, renewable energy heating systems are already supported. Heat pumps and biomass boilers are being grant funded this year at up to 50% (or up to 95% for fuel poor households) when carried out with a combined fabric upgrade. Promoting a “fabric first” approach reduces heat losses, makes it easier to keep a home warmer and more comfortable for longer periods and reduces the likelihood of installing an oversized heating system.

Experience from the BEC scheme, as well as from various pilot schemes I will roll out this year, will be used to form an evidence base to inform future national policies on low carbon heat and create the business cases necessary for large-scale projects to apply for EU funding, which my Department will be seeking to avail of in the coming years.

One of these pilot initiatives will, for example, offer deep energy efficiency upgrades to people currently participating in the Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme. Families who become involved in this pilot can expect to experience warmer, more comfortable homes, significantly reduced energy bills, a higher property value and even improved health and wellbeing. From Ireland's national perspective, it will lower Ireland’s CO2 emissions, support local construction industry jobs and contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate and energy targets.

More widely, the pilot will serve as a demonstration to the families throughout Ireland who are dependent on solid fuels as their primary heating source that there are alternatives, that energy efficiency can deliver real benefits and that moving away from solid fuels will be of benefit to them and the country as a whole. My officials are working closely with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the SEAI on the design of this scheme and full details will be announced shortly.