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

I want to ask about the retrofitting plan. We rehearsed some of this previously with regard to some of the differences between the approaches of the Government and my party to this. I do not want to go over old ground. Whatever way we cut it up, when we get to 2030, a lot of people who are using kerosene now will very likely still be using it. This is because they are ineligible for existing schemes or will be waiting for them or because they do not have the money for the type of retrofitting required to move to a heat pump. The SEAI states that heat pumps are the only show in town and argues against having an intermediary step.

The ESRI made a presentation in the audiovisual room my understanding of which is that a case was made to look at alternatives. If we look only at reducing emissions then heat pumps and district heating are the answer but if we look at other outputs, such as affordability, people living in energy poverty, the ability of people to access existing schemes and their willingness to vacate their property for a deep retrofit and to get a heat pump installed, the case for an in-between step can be made. Deputy O'Sullivan mentioned some possibilities. The Minister has heard the case for hydrogenated vegetable oils. We have discussed this previously. There is also liquefied petroleum gas and bio liquefied petroleum gas. These could be an intermediary step to get people away from kerosene, on the understanding that it could be the middle of the next decade before certain households are in a position to afford or get a heat pump. Something I heard at the briefing in the audiovisual room was that if there is going to be another way, now is the time to make a decision on it. We are losing time that is of the essence. Is the Government thinking about this or looking at it? I would like to get a sense of this.