Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A number of the people I have been talking to in the building industry over the past two weeks have made the point that a lot of people have walked away from contracts for building work. They have decided not go ahead with their house extensions or renovations. I spoke to one builder who lost three building contracts in one week and they were contracts for new houses. We may well have a situation where contractors will be out there looking for work. People are looking at cost and everything else but this scheme provides a huge saving to the State and the homeowner in energy efficiency. Is it time to focus on trying to get new contractors in and, at the same time, work with the existing contractors to improve the delivery time?