Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for my late attendance but I was attending another committee meeting. As much as politicians would love to be in two places at once, we have not yet mastered it. I have read all of the opening statements. I thank all of the witnesses for their presence and all of the information they have provided. I have a number of questions, which I will get straight to as I have only seven minutes in which to put questions and get answers.

My first question is for Mr. Deegan. In regard to the skills shortage, which is already an issue in terms of the one-stop shop and the SEAI grant, what plans are in place to overcome it? I was encouraged to hear in Mr. Deegan's opening statement that this year we are seeking to do 27,000 more home energy upgrades. Are we on track in that regard? The new low-cost loan scheme for retrofitting is welcome. How will it work for older people who, from a loan perspective, are not attractive candidates for the banks? Have we factored that in?

My next question is to Mr. Armstrong. In regard to electric vehicle, or EV, charging points and the infrastructure around them, an issue that comes up again and again is the need for EV charging infrastructure at apartment blocks from a planning perspective but also from a retrospective perspective in regard to existing apartment blocks. How do we incentivise the delivery of EV charging points to make the switch to electric possible for apartment dwellers?

From 2025, the minimum BER for rented properties comes with the caveat "where feasible". That is how I feel about it as well. I would hate to slow down progress in the creation of new rental properties for people. I am thinking in particular of homes that may become available under the fair deal scheme. Where older people are availing of the scheme, the Government has announced plans to reduce the amount of rental income that will go towards their fair deal care in a bid to incentivise more older people to put their homes up for rent, but I am conscious that many of these homes may not be BER fit for purpose. I noted in Dr. Byrne's opening statement the mention of a reclassification of the BER. Will he elaborate?

I hope I have left the witnesses enough time.