Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Looking at the Estimates generally and under various different subheads, I am sure they are compiled in this way with the exception of there being some major project or capital investment. They are generally 5% or 10% up or down on the previous year. It is the general way things have gone. I am not asking the Minister to look into the crystal ball for the next set of Estimates at which we will be looking but when it comes to Programme F, I can only hope that in light of the report that has come from the Joint Committee on Climate Action and the work being done by the Minister that the next set of Estimates at which we will look will not be in the ballpark of increases of 5%. The Minister mentioned the €500 million that is set out over ten years. We are all coming to the realisation that there will need to be a seismic shift in that space. While a couple of million is very welcome in terms of the Minister's announcement yesterday, we really need to be seeing really big announcements if we are to reach the kind of targets we need to reach for the deep retro-fitting of homes. If we are to tackle the issue of trying to come into line with and have a meaningful impact on the transport and heating sectors, we really have to spend money. I accept, and the Minister said it in public, that the Government will not be able to pay for this. The taxpayer will not be able to pay for the kind of change that is needed. We get that but it is going to take very significant financial incentives that will require the Government on behalf of the taxpayer to puts its hand in the pocket of the Exchequer and put it out there. There is no doubt that investment in this area is really beneficial in terms of addressing our climate change needs but it will also enhance growth in the circular, or green, economy. We need to change tack very significantly. That will take investment and leadership and the only entity that can do that in order to show confidence that this is the track being taken is the Government. I have no doubt that the Minister knows that but it will be about what the committee can do to assist him in convincing Ministers in other Departments that they must hold off on some of their expenditure in the short to medium term to steer the ship in a different direction.