Ms ?ine Stapleton:

I thank the Senator for raising those issues. The review of private housing grants has been concluded by the Department and is currently the subject of engagement with colleagues in the Department of public expenditure and reform in terms of recommendations. We hope to have an outcome shortly.

Regarding what I might term a piecemeal approach, we are aiming for an holistic approach under the retrofit programme whereby a local authority’s work would include the fabric of the building and the heating system. I might ask my colleague, Mr. Halvey, to expand on that a little, but it is in line with what the Senator outlined, in that the work is looked at in its totality.