ENERGY SAVING SCHEME:THE GOVERNMENT is making additional funding available for a number of measures to improve energy efficiency in homes.
It has quadruped the funds allocated to the Home Energy Saving Scheme in 2009 from €5 million to €20 million.
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said grants of up to 30 per cent would be available to householders who retrofitted their homes to improve their energy efficiency.
In addition, Mr Lenihan said that the Warmer Homes Scheme, which provided insulation for households in receipt of social welfare, would receive €5 million in 2009.
Mr Lenihan added that the Government was committed to reducing emissions to an annual average of 63 million tonnes until 2012. The Minister said that both schemes would increase energy efficiency and lead to CO2 savings.
The Green Party welcomed the announcement, saying that the issue was being addressed, despite the difficult economic circumstance.
However, both main Opposition parties dismissed the new initiatives as being minor and inequitable.
Fine Gael's energy spokesman Simon Coveney said that he was astonished to discover the Government was favouring high-earners over low-income families to such an extent.
"They have pumped the majority of the money into schemes that are subsidising retro-fitting where the householder pays 70 per cent. That will clearly favour richer people.
"Low income families will suffer because of poor insulation in attics and wall cavities.
"The amount allotted is paltry. €5 million would not even deal with a town like Clonmel," he said.
Labour's energy spokeswoman Liz McManus described the announcement as an "utter sham".
"There has been no addition funding because the €15 million for the scheme is matched by a €15 million reduction in the Greener Homes Scheme," Ms McManus said.
Ms McManus added that the measures would do little or nothing to tackle the pressing and growing problem of fuel poverty in Irish society.