andMr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment the grants available to householders who wish to introduce energy conservation measures in their homes; and if he will outline the forms of such assistance available in all other EEC Member States; and the method of allocation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Conservation Grants.
21.
There are no grants available from my Department to householders for energy conservation in existing houses. However, obligatory standards of insulation are laid down for new grant-aided houses. The latest information to hand in my Department on the forms of assistance available in other EEC countries is that grants for retrofitting as an energy saving measure in dwellings are available in Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Incentives in the form of tax credits are also given in Denmark and Germany and in the form of subsidies in Belgium. Information is not available in my Department as to the method by which these aids are allocated, except in the case of the United Kingdom where the payment of grants is governed by the provisions of the Home Insulation Act, 1978, under which local authorities may make grants towards the cost of the insulation of roof space and of the water supply in existing dwellings. The maximum grant is limited to 66 per cent of the cost of the work or £50, whichever is the lesser amount, and expenditure incurred by local authorities is reimbursed by the Exchequer.
I thank the Minister for the fullness of his reply. Is he aware that one-third of all Ireland's energy is used up in heating homes? Is he further aware that the standard of insulation in our homes is very bad? If something is to be done about this, the Government must take some initiative. Would he agree to study the possibility of introducing a grant scheme as a matter of urgency in view of the very precarious nature of our energy supplies?
Local authorities have been asked to prepare programmes as a matter of urgency for energy conservation in existing buildings under their control and to furnish details of the programme they decide upon with the least possible delay. They have been asked to include provisions for monitoring the programmes so that their cost effectiveness can be established and compared at local and national level.
Will the local authority study include vested as well as unvested dwellings, and will the Minister ask the local authorities——
Non-local authority houses are a matter for the people who own such houses.
The Minister is talking about the small minority of houses which are not yet vested. Is it not true that all this study has been concerned with is the small number of local authority houses in stock?
The provision of insulation is a priority in relation to the conservation grant.
Have the Government any money to make available for conservation?
We are looking into all that at the moment.
How long will the Minister be looking into it?
It is all being looked into at the moment.
Question No. 22 postponed.