Dr. Ciaran Byrne:

On grant funding, we launched our new array of grants in February. The main ones is the warmer home scheme, which is fully 100% funded. That takes into account of whatever the current market costs are. The other schemes, the generation schemes, are demand-led. There is the community energy grant scheme which we talked a bit about here and the one-stop shop, OSS, and the better energy home scheme. The OSS and better energy home scheme have aligned in grant levels. Those grant levels were set late last year after they were quantity surveyed. We looked at the cost in the market and at the existing schemes. We did a lot of work with behavioural economics, quantity surveyor, QS, costs and the market to set the grant levels. The Deputy rightly identified that the situation has changed and rapidly with the cost of living and particularly around the energy sector especially after the war in Ukraine. Recognising that when the schemes were launched, we put in 80% grant levels for attic and cavity insulation which is a very significant level of funding to address those who may not qualify for the warmer home scheme but who have smaller disposable income. That was specifically included to get a relatively affordable measure that could be delivered quickly and adds value to the person's home.

The SEAI does participate in the energy security emergency group and we are working on a vulnerable households scheme. We are working with groups such as the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, to see how we can target those people best but there already have been efforts with the SECs. I will ask Ms Buggie to outline that SEC work.