CI exclusive: Ryan dismisses reports of energy grant cuts

Energy mninister Eamon Ryan said there are no changes to grant schemes contrary to press reports. Photo: Green Party

Government grant schemes for energy upgrade measures such as insulation, heating controls and renewable energy systems are running as normal, energy minister Eamon Ryan TD has told Construct Ireland. The minister said that €99m is set aside for the Greener Homes scheme, Home Energy Saving scheme and Warmer Homes scheme in 2011.

"Contrary to press reports last week there are no changes to the grant schemes at the moment," Minister Ryan said. "It is still possible for people to draw down the maximum grants and the government is committed to strongly supporting the energy upgrade market.

"Right now, all schemes are full go ahead. Drafting of the new national retrofit scheme is near to completion and it will be launched in the new year. It will incorporate the existing schemes into a single national scheme." The minister said that the Department of Energy is currently working to incorporate the tax credits announced in the budget to compliment the various measures of subsidies and innovative financing options being developed under the national retrofit scheme.

"The overall plan is to do deep upgrades to one million properties over the next decade - 100,000 buildings a year. Government has endorsed that. All the current schemes are still running full tilt, and the new scheme will set out how we'll upgrade one million buildings."