Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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86. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the support scheme for energy audits; the number of SMEs that have successfully applied for this scheme to date; the initiatives that are in place to increase the uptake of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44621/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Launched in July 2021, the Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) has had over 500 vouchers redeemed to date. This equates to €1,000,000 of direct grant funding, and the data show that the retail, manufacturing, accommodation and food services sectors make up over 70% of the audits completed. Feedback indicates a strong appetite for the scheme and, following direct engagement with the SME sector in May of this year, the SEAI has seen a significant spike in applications.

Furthermore, in keeping with the responses set out in the National Energy Security Framework (NESF), the SEAI has undertaken comprehensive reviews of all its business capital support schemes in 2022, including the SSEA.