Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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236. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number and value in euro of grants provided under the smart lighting programme pilot administered by the SEAI in 2018, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3554/19]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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240. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number and value of grants provided under the SEAI smart lighting programme pilot in 2018, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3619/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 240 together.

The Smart Lighting Pilot Programme provides grants of up to 30% for SMEs to upgrade to more efficient lighting, permanently reducing future energy use and spend. The pilot scheme was introduced in 2017 and saw a significant increase in uptake in participation for 2018. The scheme will be re-introduced in 2019.

The total value of the grants in 2018 was just over €369,000, breakdown by county is set out in the table.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number and value in euros of applications under the ACA scheme administered by the SEAI in 2018, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3555/19]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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241. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number and value of applications under the SEAI ACA scheme in 2018 by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3620/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 241 together.

The Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) is a tax incentive scheme that promotes investment in energy efficient products & equipment. The scheme is available to companies and unincorporated businesses which incur expenditure on approved energy efficient equipment for use in their trade. Products eligible under the scheme are included in a list of energy-efficient equipment approved by this Department and maintained by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Revenue administer the scheme, in which companies can claim the allowance through their Return of Income Form CT1. The information currently returned to Revenue by taxpayers in relation to the ACA scheme gives an indication of the cost of the scheme to the Exchequer and the tax benefit to taxpayers.

My department is however not in a position to provide more detailed information on the uptake of the scheme as this information resides with Revenue and not with my Department. I understand that there is currently no legislative basis for Revenue to share information that is returned to Revenue by taxpayers with Government departments beyond aggregate statistics.

The most recent aggregate data, as published on Revenue's website, is for 2016 and shows a total of 71 claims with a combined value of allowances claimed of €0.9m. This information can be accessed on page 2 at the link below under the heading "Capital Allowances Used (Energy Efficient Capital Allowance only)".

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