Mr. Robert Deegan:

That is why the further we can bring it forward the better. We will certainly talk to the SEAI about that.

On the co-ordinated approach between the local authorities on the warmer homes scheme and SEAI schemes more generally, it is a really tricky problem. We tried to do a retrofit scheme in the midlands a few years ago. Without getting too bureaucratic about it, there were all kinds of problems. There were procurement rule problems and challenges with oversight. There have been examples of this being successful. The SEAI worked with Cork City Council a number of years ago. There is a project under way in Fingal County Council. We really need examples of where it works so we are then able to show other local authorities how to overcome those challenges leading to positive outcomes for everyone.

The local authorities are concerned about private homeowners in poor housing. Obviously, however, their focus is on the local authority housing stock. If we can show tangible examples where it is a win-win for the local authority side and the private housing side, everybody is absolutely on board in delivering that. It is just a matter of practical challenges. One of those practical challenges relates to people who are not eligible for the warmer homes scheme and whether they have the funding available to do it. It is definitely something we are actively working on because better levels of aggregation facilitate better energy efficiency and economies of scale. We want to do this. It is just a question of coming up with the correct mechanisms and processes that can actually deliver.