I propose to take Questions Nos. 944, 956 and 959 together.
The Greener Homes Scheme provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of domestic renewable energy heating technologies including solar panels, biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps. Earlier this week I announced Phase III of the scheme which adds log gasification boilers as an eligible technology for grant support.
The other main change under Phase III of the scheme is that from now on only existing (at least one year old) houses will be eligible for support. The Building Regulations 2008, recently brought into force, make the inclusion of components of renewable energy in new homes compulsory.
The following table sets out the numbers of applicants received under the Greener Homes Scheme.
|
Total cumulative number of applications received
|
Total number of valid applications remaining
|
December 2006
|
11,510
|
10,850
|
September 2007 (end of Phase I)
|
19,575
|
16,830
|
December 2007
|
21,525
|
17,410
|
July 1st 2008
|
28,130
|
22.130
|
Payment of grant can be drawn down by applicants at any time within the twelve month period of validity once all conditions of the scheme are met. The payments on a monthly basis under the scheme since its inception are set out in the following table.
|
Number of Payments
|
Amount of Grant Paid
|
|
|
€
|
Apr-06
|
0
|
0
|
May-06
|
0
|
0
|
Jun-06
|
5
|
10,900
|
Jul-06
|
50
|
150,346
|
Aug-06
|
107
|
328,304
|
Sep-06
|
188
|
577,578
|
Oct-06
|
219
|
709,606
|
Nov-06
|
426
|
1,390,748
|
Dec-06
|
346
|
1,139,511
|
Jan-07
|
379
|
1,285,534
|
Feb-07
|
510
|
1,720,197
|
Mar-07
|
572
|
1,971,200
|
Apr-07
|
551
|
1,858,614
|
May-07
|
598
|
2,058,025
|
Jun-07
|
730
|
2,510,842
|
Jul-07
|
476
|
1,597,794
|
Aug-07
|
753
|
2,378,771
|
Sep-07
|
782
|
2,278,989
|
Oct-07
|
838
|
2,635,747
|
Nov-07
|
1,270
|
3,801,759
|
Dec-07
|
926
|
2,657,974
|
Jan-08
|
675
|
1,927,443
|
Feb-08
|
716
|
1,946,585
|
Mar-08
|
617
|
1,696,239
|
Apr-08
|
566
|
1,534,356
|
May-08
|
714
|
1,801,996
|
Jun-08
|
735
|
1,827,308
|
|
13,749
|
41,796,366
|