Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do. It is a very good question and point. If we go back to 2019 and compare it with 2025 to date, more than 213,000 homes have had energy upgrades to various levels, with 69,000 B2 upgrades completed. It is a significant programme. It has worked well and there is a multi-annual commitment to it to the end of this decade. I believe we are getting value for money, but while I am not saying that we are increasing the grants, I have said that we are looking at how we can make the grants, as mentioned by Deputy Whitmore, more accessible and whether we can break them down into smaller chunks so they may be available on a phased basis. That is something I am considering we should do. I want to see all of the money allocated to this programme spent because it has a real impact on families.

If we consider that 213,000 families have had their home upgrades, most will be saving on their energy costs and will have warmer, more energy-efficient and greener homes. The warmer homes scheme, as a free scheme, has been very significant for people, particularly from a fuel poverty perspective. There has been a significant increase of approximately 30% or more - I gave the figure earlier - in relation to the warmer homes scheme. There has been a €70 million increase from 2024 to 2025, bringing it up to €280 million. Value for money is obviously key to this. It is right and proper that a new Government and a new Minister like myself look at what the offering is, how we can improve it and, if it needs to be improved, how we do that.