Mr. Robert Deegan:

The total budget allocation for last year was €221.5 million and the expenditure was €101 million. As the Secretary General outlined, the primary driver of the underspend was the Covid-related restrictions, which was not only affected by the shut-down of the construction sector and not being able to go into people's houses, but the knock-on impact on the supply chain and getting the sector back up to speed. The good news is that since the publication of the retrofit plan and the NDP, things have really picked up this year. We are implementing the plan and it is making a difference. We are seeing very strong interest and demand. Figures for the end of August show that more than 30,000 applications for support were made, which is up 140% year on year; 13,400 home energy upgrades were completed, which is up 70% year on year; 4,250 of the completions were B2s; and 2,800 homes were completed under the warmer homes scheme.

We are seeing real deliver now. The plan is in place, the money is behind it, the demand-generation campaigns are having effect and we are knocking down the blockers about which the Deputy spoke as much as possible. There will then be new initiatives. When we see new barriers coming up, we will introduce new initiatives for next year.