Mr. Seamus Boland:

The Deputy outlined the case concerning the €8,000 HAOP grant. We would make the same case even more strongly on the basis that it is straightforward work that does not get too complicated and has the advantage, in addition to the ones the Deputy outlined, of introducing the person to getting something started in terms of transitioning the house. It is simple work that would not cause much anxiety, but the grant is too low and restrictive. We spoke about encouraging people to move into this space and start sorting out their houses. That is a good start and an easy step to take. As the Deputy stated, restricting the grant makes no sense. We will continue to make this case and would argue that the committee should do likewise in its final report. There are many thousands of people who are not doing anything at the moment to transition their houses.

I would argue that under-65s seem to be discriminated against. Age is not the way to look at this. Rather, income is. We need to consider income as a determining factor. We have argued strongly for a proper package involving a mix of credit union loans, grants and other funding. The most important element that people still want is real, solid advice that they can trust. There is a great deal of advice out there, but read any expert’s column and listen to any radio programme and one will be told, “On the one hand and on the other hand”. That is no use at all to people who are looking for straight answers. If they cannot get straight answers, they need to be able to find someone who can give them. We need properly managed finance packages from trustworthy sources, such as the credit union, we need the grants to be adequate and not restricted in the rather mean-spirited way some of them are, and we need solid, straightforward advice. Even if the person only installs windows, let there be an overall plan for each house that sets out what needs to happen. Even if the person only installs a proper front door, that is a start. At least he or she is doing something. In our estimation, approximately 400,000 houses are only barely thinking about something now that we as a country have decided is an emergency.