Mr. Alex Taylor:

On a positive note in regard to the home improvement scheme, we have done a number of joint presentations with Revenue in builders' merchants, particularly in the west and the north west, on the benefits of the scheme.

For every €1 that goes through the scheme - there are huge sums involved, and we hope they will increase further - there is a benefit for Revenue both from the registration of builders as bona fide companies and in terms of the tax take.