asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the advice and directions that are available to a small business concern in respect of the conservation of energy.
14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Conservation.
13.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will consider providing incentive grants to industries which undertake energy conservation projects.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
Services for giving advice on the conservation of energy are made available free of charge by my Department through a number of channels. The services, which are administered by personnel from the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, commissioned by my Department are as follows:
(i) Regional Energy Conservation Officers are available for advice, including visits to the business premises. The officers are located in the IIRS offices in (a) Ballymun Road, Dublin (b) Monaghan Road, Cork (c) Shannon Town Centre, County Clare, and (d) Abbey Street, Sligo.
(ii) Regional energy management associations which provide a forum for discussion and exchange of information. The contact person is the regional energy conservation officer of my Department.
(iii) a series of booklets on energy conservation topics is available from the Department and the IIRS posters and stickers may also be obtained from these sources.
(iv) a boiler testing service, under which boilers with an output of the equivalent of 50 kw or over are tested for combustion efficiency. A report on the boiler's condition, any faults found, how they should be remedied and an estimate of the loss in money and energy terms caused by the inefficiencies is furnished to the company. The contact person is the head of Industrial Energy Services, Cork or Dublin.
(v) a building advisory service to provide technical support and guidance on energy related building and construction matters.
(vi) a telephone advisory service is available on the Energy Hotline, telephone 01-376666 and 01-375107.
Other services, but not provided by my Department, are available from (a) the IIRS through consultancy services, seminars and conferences; (b) the ESB for advice on the efficient use of electricity; (c) private consultants.
My Department provide grants, under the Fuel Efficiency Scheme, of up to 33? per cent to manufacturing and service industries and hotels towards the cost of engaging consultants to carry out surveys with a view to achieving fuel economies.
The Industrial Development Authority consider grant assistance for companies undertaking research and development work to improve their product range or their methods of manufacture. Applications will be accepted for proposals which show reasonable prospects of significant energy savings. The grant may be up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure subject to a maximum of £250,000 for any one project.