Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the huge progress that has been made. Mr. Deegan referred to the waiting times for getting the work done on those different retrofitted homes. This is phenomenal work. It is not just the speed or the time but that it is meaningful change in a household. I acknowledge that. There is large demand on the scheme as well. The wait time to get to the starting line is the big issue, in our experience. Nothing starts until the BER certification is obtained. As outlined, matters are prioritised from there, in the case of homes that are identified as being at building energy rating, BER, of F or G. There are homes where, on walking into the yard, are obviously at a BER rating of Z, before anything is done. They are not going to be identified for at least another winter, after a decision has been made by the homeowner to do an upgrade. When the BER certificate is obtained there is prioritisation but before that, there is not. The energy seems to be focused on getting more contractors to get the work done after that, but we are still missing out on that initial gap of ten months in the cases of those most vulnerable households. These are people who it can clearly be seen need an energy upgrade. They are not going to qualify for a BER rating of E, F or G. They are identifiable. We are trying to understand the effort to resolve that first winter. Once the decision is made that the place is going to be upgraded by the householder and the application is in, are efforts being made to get those BER certifications sooner to allow householders to get to the starting line and be recognised as the most vulnerable and the most in need? Are efforts being made to contract out the BER certification in order that people who have those lowest ratings would be identifiable in less than a year and not have to face another winter when the decision to upgrade is made?