Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Mr. Byrne on his appointment and thank him for joining us. When it comes to energy, we know many of the solutions. Going back to one of the first comments, it is about implementing them and the roll-out. When we look at other areas when it comes to climate, it is more difficult to know what the solutions are. As a public representative, I have been contacted by people who, number one, do not know where to go. I hope that the one-stop-shop will be able to deal with that issue. The other issue is that they do not believe that the financial incentive is big enough to make the change. The warmer homes scheme is free for some people because they fall into certain categories but on the ground, when I am contacted by people living in rural parts of my community, the issue is that it needs to be enough of an incentive to make some kind of investment. There is help to put a financial package around it but there is also that piece involving that change of mind that must happen when someone says that if he or she invests in something, it will save him or her money over time. A key part of that element of the public is renters. They do not have the capacity to make that switch themselves. How does Mr. Byrne see his role in SEAI in moving those two categories along to where we believe they need to be in terms of climate, their own well-being and air quality?

My last point concerns schools. There is a real desire on the part of schools and children to make a switch. Having tried to help schools in the past, I know they simply do not have the capacity to invest themselves.

Does Mr. Byrne believe that more legislation is required or a change in policy direction from the Department of Education that may aid him and through which a partnership could be developed? That way, it would not include only a community element, but would apply specifically to schools.