John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)

That is an improvement, and it is welcome. However, that expenditure does not go far enough. Several members have been parochial, and I will be parochial too. The number of houses in County Wicklow retrofitted last year was approximately 100. That is nowhere near the level required. I am dealing with many local authority tenants who are experiencing real financial hardship in terms of energy poverty.

There are also the responsibilities we have in terms of reaching our climate objectives. I would be concerned in this regard. Again, this is a different debate to have with the Minister. However, I welcome that the 2024 targets have been met and that the money allocated has been spent.

On estate regeneration and refurbishment, I think there was also an underspend. Only €37.2 million out of a budget of €50 million was spent on estate regeneration and refurbishment. Again, I look at my constituency. A pilot project was rolled out several years ago in one estate, Ashlawn Court, in Bray. Only 18 of the 248 houses in that estate underwent regeneration. Any time I raise this issue, I am consistently told there is no funding to progress and complete that refurbishment. We know the benefits of and carrying out this work. Why is there underspending on this scale under this heading?