Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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155. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration has been given to re-examining the eligibility criteria for the energy audit voucher available to small and medium-sized businesses from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; if the current exemption afforded to some groups, who do not have to meet the €10,000 per year threshold, may be expanded to include other community, voluntary and arts sector non-profit actors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43065/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) is a highly successful scheme funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme has supported over 4,000 small businesses with a €2,000 voucher for a high-quality energy audits.

The scheme’s eligibility criteria are published on the SEAI’s website. Businesses applying to the scheme must be non-obligated entities (i.e. not obligated to complete a mandatory energy audit); tax compliant; registered in Ireland; and spend at least €10,000 on energy (exclusive of transport energy costs) per year at the site being audited. In addition, there is a limit of one audit voucher per Applicant/Company.

There are no exceptions to these criteria for any sector. The SSEA is available to the community, voluntary and arts sectors, non-profit actors, farms, small public bodies and any organisation that meets these criteria.

I would suggest that the Deputy provides relevant details of any issues of concern directly to the SEAI for consideration. The SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly and in line with the SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie.