Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have some follow-up questions. Is the SEAI of the opinion that planning permission is needed for external installation or is it exempt?

On what basis would it be exempt? Some masters students went to the effort of contacting every local authority throughout the State and there was a mixture of opinions from various planning departments. I would like to have the SEAI's perspective on that. With regard to engagement with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I have had reason to be in contact with the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, ETB, and there is much work going on there. How quickly is a scaling up of courses expected to be available?

Will the SEAI comment on the sustainable energy communities, SECs, in regard to the opportunity it sees there? I certainly see an opportunity. Every time I meet the SECs they reference a new grant or support that is to be available to them to support good work. They refer to it as LEAF funding but I do not know how the SEAI refers to it. When might we see that?

There are concerns in terms of the equity test. A number of members have made the point about lifting people out of energy poverty. It is interesting to hear from the SEAI representatives about the evolving nature of the schemes, the pivot from energy poverty to energy efficiency, the various studies including the heat loss indicator study which then maybe points towards a different metric for assessing the appropriate intervention. I refer to a stage where a heat pump might not be the way forward. We might project ourselves forward post the heat loss indicator study to say there might be significant emissions reductions in a poorly insulated house to take it from BER rating G to C and a heat pump might not be the answer there. What might the alternative system be in such houses? Are they likely to be supported in the time ahead?