Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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585. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider making grant aid available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to cover energy efficient re-equipment in poultry, pigs and horticulture not already covered by the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme. [24210/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Energy Efficiency is the most cost effective way of reducing energy use and emissions in homes, businesses and farms. I actively encourage farmers to improve the energy efficiency of their businesses, and in doing so to take action to reduce the levels of emissions from the agriculture sector. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has worked closely with Teagasc over the years to provide training on energy management to Teagasc advisors and farmers. The SEAI publishes and maintains a register of energy efficient products and equipment. The Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA), is a tax break which allows businesses to write off the cost of eligible equipment from this register in one year rather than over eight years under conventional accounting rules. This is available to businesses, including farms, paying corporate tax.

Qualifying products from the defined ACA equipment categories are listed on the ACA Specified List which is updated on a regular basis. All ACA qualifying products can be searched for on the ACA Specified List through the SEAI’s website. Another option for smaller farmers, whether VAT registered or not, is to reclaim VAT on electricity micro-generation technologies (e.g. wind turbines).

The Better Energy Communities (BEC) scheme, is one of the major schemes funded by my Department to cover energy efficient upgrade of buildings. The BEC scheme is administered by the SEAI and funding is awarded on a competitive basis. The BEC scheme is designed for multi sector projects comprising a mix of one or more sectors (residential, commercial – including farming - and public) coming together to make a community application.  It would be open to the farming sectors the Deputy mentioned to consider this.  Separately, SEAI are considering energy efficiency support in the dairy farm sector with a view to piloting a scheme this year.