Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Using less energy, and using it more efficiently, is the most cost effective and accessible way for us all to take action on climate change.   

Overall in 2018, at least €117m in capital and current funding will be invested in energy efficiency programmes. This will save over 120,000 tonnes in carbon emissions every year. It will support around 3,500 jobs, and reduce our overall dependence on imported fossil fuels. As the Deputy notes, this is an increase of €35m over the allocation for 2017. I have outlined below  key interventions which will receive funding in 2018 and I will keep these and financial allocations under review  through the course of the year.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is currently engaged in a review of the technologies supported under the Better Energy Homes grant programme. Increased funding will allow SEAI to take a broader look at what new technologies might be supported under the scheme in 2018.

I will also continue to support collective local action on energy efficiency. The Better Energy Communities scheme continues to go from strength to strength and the additional funding I have secured for 2018 will increase funds available to this scheme.

Activity has significantly ramped up on the Warmth & Wellbeing scheme in 2017 with nearly 500 homes completed to date. A further €8m in capital funding has been allocated to the scheme for 2018 which will see activity increase to at least 600 home completions in 2018.

Earlier this year, I announced that those people identified as living in the poorest condition homes would receive a deeper energy efficiency than standard under the Warmer Homes scheme. So far in 2017, SEAI have already identified many homes that are in a very poor condition and these will be considered for upgrade under the Warmer Homes scheme. In total, funding in 2018 will provide for the upgrade of over 9,000 low income homes.

The Commercial sector has significant potential to contribute to national energy efficiency and climate change objectives. I am increasing our capital investment in this sector to provide for the expansion of the successful Energy Efficiency in Design or EXEED Programme. Launched on a pilot basis in 2017, companies participating in the scheme are seeing an impressive 28% energy efficiency improvement on average. This helps to improve the competitiveness and resilience of Irish businesses.

I am also determined that we harness more of the energy efficiency potential in our farms and small businesses. My Department is currently consulting on how best we can increase awareness of the multiple benefits of energy efficiency for businesses and the allocation of additional funds will be guided by the results of this consultation.

It should also be noted that the public sector has already made a very significant contribution to national energy efficiency objectives, having already achieved energy efficiency gains of 20%. In 2017 new pilot support schemes were put in place for the renovation of public buildings and for our schools that saw schools reduce their energy bills by more than 40% on average. Given these promising results I am nearly doubling the budget for these works in 2018. I hope that this will identify the optimal approaches and standards that can be replicated and scaled more widely across the public sector.