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Rabbitte welcomes €30m funding for energy efficiency schemes as part of the Governments Stimulus package

Minister announces funding for a new trading-online scheme for small businesses.

Additional funding for GPO 2016 facility and Cork Energy Research Centre also welcomed

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte T.D. announced today (15 October) that he has secured €30m under the Government’s Stimulus Package to increase investment in the Better Energy and Warmer Home energy efficiency schemes to a total of €57m. These schemes fund energy efficiency improvements by householders as well as upgrades in the homes of the elderly and vulnerable, making the homes more comfortable, healthier and more cost effective to run while also creating jobs in the construction sector. These programmes will assist in the realisation of energy saving of over 600GWh next year – a significant contribution towards reaching our 2020 energy efficiency targets.

Additional funding will be provided for the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme in 2014. The programme provides energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households. Over 15,000 homes are expected to benefit from an energy efficiency upgrade under this programme in 2014, bringing the total number of homes supported under the programme to more than 120,000 since it was launched.

A further 17,000 homes will receive energy efficiency upgrades in 2014 under the Better Energy Homes programme which provides grants to homeowners towards the costs of insulation and heating system upgrades. This will bring the total number of households that have received a retrofit measure under this programme to over 170,000 – delivering energy savings of more than €60 million each year.

“The continued investment by Government in energy retrofit is a key support to smaller firms in the building sector and the funding next year will support about 3,000 full time jobs and make further progress in addressing energy poverty” said the Minister. “It is additional to Department of Environment spending on energy measures in local authority homes and to the €70m fund I have established to encourage similar works in public and commercial buildings, which will also boost employment.”

Recognising the growing importance of the digital economy, Minister Rabbitte also announced that he was setting aside €5m in 2014 to assist in the rollout of a national trading-online voucher scheme, aimed at getting 2,000 small Irish businesses trading online.

“There is an enormous opportunity for Irish businesses in the online space and significant risks if they do not develop online trading platforms” Minister Rabbitte said. Irish consumers spent approximately €3.7bn online last year, of which 70% was spent outside Ireland. Less than 1 in 4 small Irish businesses are trading online. Research undertaken for the European Commission indicates that traditional businesses which have a meaningful online presence grow twice as fast, export twice as much and employ twice as many people. “In Ireland, where the digital economy represents 4.4% of GDP, there is a real opportunity for small businesses to grow. My ambition is to ensure that a much greater proportion of the online spend stays in Ireland, supports Irish businesses and creates jobs in this country. For that to happen many more Irish businesses need to offer services online”.

In preparation for the design of a national scheme, a two phase pilot will be launched in Dublin next week. Under the pilot scheme vouchers of up to €2,500 will be provided to 50 small companies to help them develop an online trading presence. The scheme will be administered by the Dublin City Enterprise Board and will target small enterprises that employ less than 10 people and have a turnover of less than €2m per annum.

Minister Rabbitte also welcomed the Budget announcement of investment from the National Lottery sale proceeds which will support capital works in two other areas within his remit. “Investment in exhibition and interpretative facilities at the GPO will be timely as we prepare to commemorate 1916”. He added that “Development of the facility for the Irish Maritime & Energy Research Cluster in Cork should accelerate research into the exciting potential for marine energy to be harnessed from Ireland’s wave and tidal resources.”

“Finally, I am pleased that the Finance Minister has agreed that there will be no increase in fuel duties – petrol, diesel or fuel oil. And I am especially pleased that the fuel allowance and the free electricity and gas schemes under the Household Benefits Package have been protected.”