Over 2,600 jobs have been supported through the Better Energy programme, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

€47 million of government support through the Better Energy programme secured €113 million of building energy efficiency upgrades.

SEAI also provided substantial support to the development and deployment of clean energy technologies including €4.7 million for ocean and renewable energies and €2.7 million grant aid towards 562 electric vehicles (EVs). This brings the total number of grant aided EVs on the road to over 1,100.

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Mr William Walsh interim CEO of SEAI said: "2015 was a monumental year for the sustainable energy and climate change agendas, internationally with the historic agreement at COP21 in Paris, and nationally with the publication of the Energy White Paper. It is clear that we are now at the beginning of the end for fossil fuels as we commence the process of decarbonising our energy systems.

"While our economy continues to grow, our energy use is not growing as rapidly. Our programmes demonstrate the effectiveness of robust energy efficiency actions and greater use of renewable energy. We must gain momentum across all sectors and all energy uses to reduce the overall energy intensity of our economy, which will deliver cost savings, energy security and help to combat climate change."

(CD/LM)