Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 30 is on the same matter that we were trying to introduce and which we spoke about in private session, namely, capping it on the basis of a financial contribution. That option is still there, and while I know the Minister said it could not work, the home incentive scheme has worked quite well, where a list of permitted enabling works is given and a financial minimum that can be spent is put on it. Some of these works can be carried out without affecting the tenant, especially when it comes to the building energy rating, BER. Many of us have lived in our homes when we have had major renovation works carried out and there was no issue. By adding the financial limit to it, along with listing the works that are permitted, it simplifies it a bit. We seem to get very technical in everything we are doing instead of saying that we can increase the energy efficiency, improve disability access, improve wiring and so on, but it must have a certain minimum value. That was the general opinion I felt at the time, and while the Minister said it was not operational, the home incentive scheme has worked very well in the sense that every contractor who is doing it has to be tax compliant and they have to go through the processing, log it online, and away they go. It is an option that we have put on the table and it could and should still be considered, although the Minister has other evidence from what I have.