Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Murphy is right when she suggests that an SME is being defined as a company with a turnover of up to €400,000. That is the category into which one of these companies must fit. The whole idea is to make sure of the quality of workmanship actually done by the company that will be doing it. We want to ensure they are not cowboys, they are competent, they have a track record and they can prove they have a sustainable business with the capacity to do the work. Clearly, as I said earlier, people coming off the unemployment register, along with apprentices, graduates and school leavers, will be very much a part of this. Notwithstanding the Deputy's concerns, I have no doubt that a significant number of people who are as local as possible will be involved in this work. There is a direct link on the Bord Gáis website that can be used by people who wish to be employed by the company. If an unemployed plumber called John Murphy wants to work in this area, he can contact the company, which will ensure his data goes to all of the successful contractors. I was also asked about the costs. I think the idea is that the maximum at any one time will be €500 million.