Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
149. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way the veracity of incentive effect declarations are to be measured in relation to large multinationals availing of EXEED scheme funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10940/22]
View answerMy Department funds a number of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) support schemes to help businesses to improve the energy efficiency of their activities. However, the administration and management of applications under these schemes, including the Excellence in Energy Efficiency Design (EXEED) scheme, are an operational matter for the SEAI. In line with the SEAI EXEED Grant Guidelines (available at www.seai.ie/SEAI-EXEED-Grant-Guidelines-2021.pdf), the SEAI comprehensively assesses each project application for value for money and incentive effect, in line with state aid requirements. The declaration of incentive effect is one part of this assessment. Statements and evidence to this effect are required and evaluated at the time of application, and additional information sought where required.
Under the EXEED scheme, any project proposed is evaluated against the scheme criteria and not against the specific business or organisation.
The SEAI established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that they can be addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie.
