Dr. Brian Motherway:

That is another good set of questions and it will be a challenge to be brief.

No one could disagree that education is at the centre of everything. We do significant work in that area and know it is about our long-term future. I have seen a change in my time in this business in terms of the level of general awareness of the issues, even in the number of retrofits that have taken place, although some have been shallow. If 250,000 people have had work done in their homes, the power of word of mouth is tremendous. Others come into these homes and tell their neighbours about the effects. The most powerful driver for the next person to come to us and avail of our supports for a retrofit is somebody like a family member or neighbour, not an SEAI campaign or a leaflet issued by a Deputy. The campaign or leaflet can tell people where to go, but engaging them is more about peer and local relationships.

On the one thing I would do, if the Senator does not mind, I would do two things. We have conducted significant research on why people undertake a retrofit, in order that we can persuade others to do the same, and on how people think about energy use in the home. The Senator's point on the home and the role of women is very important. Sometimes I get frustrated when I hear economists say we should tell people there is a payback period of seven years and that we should show them the spreadsheet. People do not think like that, as members know. Comfort, heating and energy in the home is much more of an emotional matter than a rational one. It is about whether a person is providing for a family and keeping children in a healthy and pleasant environment.