Mr. Frank Maughan:

The Deputy spoke about climate-proofing of the budget. I already mentioned that the plan contains a new commitment on carbon-proofing Government memoranda and individual investment appraisals. That should be strengthened as part of the public spending code the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is preparing at the moment.

Separately, I believe in last year's Budget Statement the Minister for Finance gave an undertaking to developing green budgeting as part of the budgetary framework into the future. This year's Revised Estimates Volume contains an appendix relating to the individual subheads across Departments that are specifically related to climate action. I understand the Department intends to develop that further in due course.

We acknowledge skills and retrofitting as an issue that needs to be tackled and has been addressed with specific actions under the plan. There are a number of aspects, including the skills base required for retrofitting of buildings to what will be required in the future, which is a very deep level of retrofit considerably beyond what is being done. The need to upskill the existing construction industry is recognised and there are specific commitments to develop accredited courses through the education and training boards to allow that to be done. The upskilling required for the replacement of oil and gas boilers is also addressed in the plan.

The plan also contains a commitment on the development of a rural transport strategy for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.