Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will start with the first question, which is about the climate impact or the carbon impact of these schemes for retrofit. The Deputy will appreciate that there is not a simple relationship between the amount spent and the volume of emissions saved. Different interventions have different results. This is why we are targeting for example, attic insulation and wall insulation with an 80% grant, because we were advised that they would have the highest return on investment in emissions saved.

The carbon impact of the schemes is being measured by the SEAI and it will publish a report on the outputs in the coming weeks. That should provide some information on that. Last year, 9,183 attics were insulated and 7,275 cavity walls had insulation installed. Clearly, therefore, there has been a high take-up of the 80% grant, which allows people using quite a small amount of money to get a high return on investment. Then again, we cannot force people to do things. These schemes are optional. There is customer demand for certain interventions, and customers may opt for things that have a lower return on investment. That is their choice because it is their lives.

The next question is about the take-up of smart meters. Questions were asked about data protection and so on. I am glad ESB Networks is now publishing or allowing customers to see their own data from their smart meters. This was one of the simple benefits. I went through the process of getting my own data. All I have to do is input my own meter point reference number on a website. Smart meters will be key to our variable and renewable energy sources when power is in surplus and can be given to people cheaply. It should be possible for people to turn on appliances in the middle of the night or charge their electric vehicles using cheap power, thus dissuading them from using power at peak times. Since 2019, when ESB Networks commenced the programme, 1.1 million smart meters have been installed. Approximately 40,000 meters are being installed each month. Deputy Bruton said the roll-out has been slow.