Mr. Matthew Collins:

It is because of the important issue being addressed here in terms of energy poverty. The priority for us was to improve the data to inform policy development.

The Department carried out a study through the ESRI and a number of subsequent studies have been carried out. We have worked with the CSO which, as the national statistics office, is best placed to develop the right types of metrics and analysis. It has undertaken to take a much more accelerated approach to making those data available. While we have undertaken studies in the past, which have produced results, and studies have been conducted separately by other bodies, the key for us was to go to the national agency with responsibility for statistics to work with it together with the SEAI to provide the best metrics to inform that policy development.

The challenge is that it is a difficult and complex area. Based on the wide-ranging policies that are already in place and the socio-economic factors that have been referenced by the ESRI today, one can see how complex the area is. If we are to make an intervention in this area, it is important to have the best data available. That is why we are focusing as an initial step on working with the CSO to develop those metrics.