Conor Lenihan, Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources has officially launched a scheme expected to generate significant employment across County Mayo over the next six to 12 months.
The main focus of the Greenloan Home Energy Savers Scheme is to create employment opportunities in local communities by grouping homeowners to avail of large discounts in upgrading their properties.
Ten clusters comprising scores of homeowners have already been created in Mayo under the scheme, which was originally piloted in the county last year as part of the pilot phase of the SEI Home Energy Saving Scheme (HES ). The clusters are located in Westport, Ballina, Claremorris, Belmullet, Castlebar, Ballinrobe, Foxford, Crossmolina, Bangor Erris, and Swinford.
Speaking on the scheme Minister Lenihan said: “My Department has made available almost €50 million to the Home Energy Saving Scheme for 2009. This is expected to fund in excess of 30,000 home energy upgrades this year alone and generate a large amount of much needed employment in the current economic circumstances.
“I welcome the great interest in the scheme from the business sector. There is now wide acceptance that the green economy is a major growth area. The almost €50 million going into the green economy this year from the Home Energy Saving Scheme offers a very attractive commercial opportunity for businesses that assist homeowners with completing insulation and other works under the scheme and in particular those which add value to the transaction,” added Minister Lenihan.
For more on the Greenloan Home Energy Savers Scheme, including an interactive map identifying existing clusters throughout Ireland, see www.greenloan.ie
