Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with the deep retrofit first. The big challenge for me at the moment is not actually more money. It is to actively encourage people to carry out these upgrades now. The other challenge is to get contractors to do it because many of the contractors are not prepared to get into this sector. We are going to see a significant ramp-up in the next few years in the funding that is going to be available but it is important we have the capacity within the system to carry out the work and the demand as well. What we have done with the warmer homes scheme is expanded the range of work that will be carried out. It is extended now, effectively, to a deep retrofit.

We are wrapping homes with external wall insulation if they do not have cavity walls, doing the attics and looking at whether the windows and doors need replacing as well as the heating system. We are talking about a significant investment. It is free of charge to anyone in receipt of the fuel allowance, anyone long-term unemployed with children, anyone receiving the carer's allowance, where the carer is residing with the person being cared for and anyone receiving the domiciliary care allowance. There is a significant amount of money there now. It would really assist me if colleagues would encourage their own constituents to apply to the SEAI for that. The application form is very simple and the SEAI takes it from there. It is funded directly by my Department to provide this service to the public and I encourage people to do that. That is based on the knowledge and understanding we have gained from the deep retrofit pilot here in Dublin.

On the issue of trucks and heavy goods vehicles, I do not disagree with Deputy Dooley's point on public transport. As and from the middle of next year, all public transport vehicles purchased will be low emission vehicles. That is set out in the national development plan. In respect of the commercial semi-State sector, An Post has now announced it is transitioning its fleet to one that will be completely zero emissions in the next decade. That is right across the country, starting initially inside the canals in Dublin over the next 18 months and then extending beyond. The Garda has purchased electric vehicles as has the Defence Forces. We are actively encouraging other State and semi-State bodies to do the same. Electric vehicles can deal with some of the heavy goods vehicle demand. In fact, we are launching a new electric light goods vehicle in Dublin tomorrow morning. The other side of it then is compressed natural gas and biogas.

We hope we will be in a position to make an announcement soon regarding the supports for biomethane. A paper on that, which would allow for Bio-CNG in the market is due. It is operational in the Deputy's constituency. We attended the launch of Clean Ireland and the operation of its refuse trucks in Shannon. Hopefully, we will see more of that happening throughout the country.