Ms Justina Corcoran:

There are some other schemes. There is a solar PV scheme for the medically vulnerable which offers free solar PV installation for people on the registered vulnerable list. There are 3,000 people who are eligible for that scheme, which is under way. It will be one of the interim measures. We are going out to consultation within the next week or two on the energy poverty action plan with a view to having an updated energy poverty action plan published in quarter 2 of this year. The existing one has a number of short-term measures around the credit and social protection supports and has some of the longer term measures around energy efficiency. It is definitely recognised that there other measures that would be very beneficial in the medium term. Hopefully, through the consultation, we will get some more detail on which of those will work better.

The European Commission published 25 recommendations in November. Some of the areas mentioned by the Deputy are set out in those recommendations, particularly around energy efficiency in white goods. I have microgeneration on my side of the house. Another issue is smart technology solutions, for example, giving people solar panels but also a water diverter. Somebody with mobility issues might be given a smart thermometer system and a water diverter, which probably has more value to him or her. There is a lot of stuff coming from Europe recommending that this is the direction we need to follow.

On the energy poverty action plan, we look to see how we measure up with regard to the 35 recommendations and how we can create that ambition. That is what it will be framed under.