The Government has announced the expansion of its Greener Homes Scheme.
The scheme was introduced in March 2006 to help householders switch to renewable energy sources, and some 16,000 grants have been awarded since.
House with solar panels and windmill. The government is extending its Greener Homes Scheme. Image: Peter Thursfield.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan said today the scheme has "fulfilled its initial objectives, surpassed its targets ahead of schedule and fully committed its budget allocation".
Last month, approved applications reached the €47 million five-year allocation for the scheme, Mr Ryan said.
The Minister said he will secure additional finances to fund a second phase of the scheme when the Dáil resumes sitting at the end of this month.
"The additional funding will also allow Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to fund similar energy grants for lower-income housing, school and community schemes and the rollout of other innovative heating technologies," Mr Ryan said.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley is expected to introduce regulations requiring the use of renewable energy systems in new buildings.
Under the Greener Homes Scheme, homeowners can receive grants worth several thousand euro towards the purchase of wood chip stoves and boilers, solar energy panels and pumps for collecting underground heat. These grants are intended to allow recipients to replace conventional non-renewable energy sources.
Householders can receive some €3,000 if they are installing a biomass boiler, €1,100 for wood chip or pellet stoves and from €2,500 to €3,500 for pumps designed to use energy from soil or air.
The package also provides funding for renewable energy schemes for small to medium-scale businesses.