Mr. Robert Deegan:

The Deputy makes a fair point but I would refer him to the climate action plan commitments in this area, including the commitment to review energy poverty schemes in order that we can target those most in need. There is a commitment that this would be done by the end of the year. This is about having a practical impact on delivering change for people living in energy poverty and making sure resources are going to those in need. There has been significant increases in funding in recent years and that is continued this year. We want to make sure that that money is being used to best effect, that we are getting value for money and targeting those in need.

The national energy and climate plan, NECP, report will be concluded by the end of this year and will go to the European Union. It will also include energy poverty indicators and the measures we will be taking to help tackle energy poverty in the years ahead. Tangible work is ongoing. As mentioned by Mr. Collins in his opening address, one of the issues that will be examined by the retrofitting task force chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is how we can bring people in energy poverty along in that 500,000 houses target that we must hit as part of the climate action plan target.