Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I might come in first and ask the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to speak from her side. Since I was in here last, we have made significant progress, as the Deputy has heard from both of us. There has been really good collaboration. We are talking about very practical supports and advice to the owners of thatched properties. While it is a pilot scheme, it is intended to roll it out and keep it on an ongoing basis. We have architectural conservation officers in most local authorities. We hope that all local authorities will have those in the next year or two. That advice is critical in reducing and, in some cases, minimising the potential fire risk in properties. The thatched building working group that we set up in the Department is looking at many other issues relating to the availability of skilled thatchers and growing materials in Ireland. The grant supports are not insignificant. We have ramped them up significantly in recent years. As I travel around the country, I find many owners of houses and businesses with thatched roofs are availing of those grants to carry out routine maintenance on those properties and to fully rethatch them. We have made considerable progress. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will testify to this. I hope the industry will respond in kind to the measures we have taken so far.