Energy Minister Eamon Ryan has announced his department's Supplementary Budget Estimates for 2009, suggesting that state commitment to green energy will continue to create jobs.

Minister Ryan said the department would make necessary savings across areas such as administrative costs and consultancy expenses.

However, the Minister ensured that expenditure in those areas which are central to economic renewal - energy and communications - will be maintained and in some instances increased.

Reflecting the importance of state investment in the green economy, the revised 2009 allocation will represent a total increase of 7% on the 2008 out turn - from €486 to €520m.

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The increase relates primarily to the Home Energy Savings Scheme, the €50m home insulation scheme which help reduce energy bills and carbon emissions as well as creating thousands of jobs.

"This scheme has proven enormously popular and has already secured 150 new jobs. The jobs, the investment and the cost reductions this guarantees for every householder will be maintained," said Mr Ryan.

Over €7m will also be allocated for the development of the prospectively lucrative Ocean Energy programme.

"Expansion in government activity and the attendant private spending and lending will replace the natural contractions in other areas of the economy," said the Minister.

"The green economy will provide the jobs and investment of the future. The knowledge economy will be nothing without broadband. I am pleased that we were able to focus Government investment in these areas" he said.

"Householders will see immediate benefits, the jobs market will see immediate new jobs in areas such as broadband delivery and insulation; international investors will look to Ireland as a country with a clear plan for its economic recovery. My Department is central to this recovery."

(PR/JM)