Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I thank the Chairman. This will be touching on many of the issues that have been spoken about earlier. I thank the Minister for addressing us today. At the outset, I greatly welcome the investment in retrofitting and in the warmer homes scheme. This is going to be a key tool in reaching those ambitious targets that we have set ourselves of meeting a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. It is also one of those mechanisms of doing it in a way that will minimise the impact on lower-income earners and those in disadvantaged areas. It makes complete sense to see the huge increase in investment, 50% increases, etc., because it has to happen.

Obviously, we have to take this opportunity to give the Minister the feedback on the ground as to the current scheme and on the current waiting list, which a number of members have spoken about already. People in my community have been waiting 18 months and longer. The Minister has already touched on how he is going to address that in upskilling, retraining and increasing the number of tradespeople who can roll out this initiative. The Minister need not cover that aspect again as he has already done so.

I have one question, which is slightly unusual with regard to the roll-out of the warmer homes scheme. In its initial years, which is a good while ago now, many of the schemes were rolled out by the local social enterprise development association. In the case of where I am from this was the West Cork Development Partnership where it was the main agent in rolling out the scheme. While I am open to correction, I understand such partnerships are now precluded from tendering for these works. Due to the predicament that we are in, because there are such long delays and because there are such groups that have experience and a good track record in delivering these schemes, is that something that we could look at again in a fair way that does not impact the tendering process? Such groups have the experience, skills and knowledge and this could be a vital tool in expediting the works and decreasing the waiting time. Can the Minister comment on that point please?