Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is confusion. The warmer homes scheme, which is free for people in receipt of fuel allowance, provides for a lagging jacket for a boiler, attic insulation and maybe some other minor works such as energy-efficient lightbulbs. The better energy warmer homes scheme is part grant-aided and the householder puts up the balance. The national retrofit scheme is the more substantial scheme.

According to Mr. Griffin's opening statement, €97 million was spent on the schemes in 2020. In relation to this year, is the funding spread over the year? I am never sure of this when constituents ask me about it. Is it the case that there is a pot of money across the three schemes at the start of the year and when it is gone, it is gone. Those are the three main schemes Mr. Griffin identified for householders - I should have clarified that. Is it spread over the year or is it the case that the pot of money is there at the start of the year, be it €80 million, €100 million or whatever, and if it is gone by April, it is gone for the year? For our own information, what way does that work?