Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan has announced the Greener Homes scheme has fulfilled its initial objectives, surpassed its targets ahead of schedule and fully committed its budget allocation.

Since its inception 16,000 grants have been awarded. There has been a dramatic increase in renewable technology suppliers and a ten-fold expansion in the number of renewable energy products available on the market.

Last month, approved applications reached the €47 million five-year allocation for the scheme.

The intention of this scheme was to stimulate demand for renewable technologies in homes and to assist a fledgling industry. The demand is clear and the sector is now on a firm footing.

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Announcing the revised Scheme, Minister Ryan said: "Greener Homes has fulfilled its objectives. Rather than concluding the Scheme, however, I have decided that a new Phase with revised terms and conditions is necessary to continue this work. I will be securing additional funding for this new Phase via the Supplementary Estimates process when the Dáil resumes.

"The additional funding will allow Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to fund similar energy grants for lower-income housing, school and community schemes and the rollout of other innovative heating technologies."

David Taylor, CEO of Sustainable Energy Ireland which administers the scheme, stated: "I echo the Minister’s pleasure in the success of our initial phase. The strength of consumer demand for the three renewable energy technologies assisted to date is a wake-up call to business that sustainable energy preferences are now being well and truly reflected in consumer investment decisions."

(JM/SP)