Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed)

1:59 pm

Mr. Robert Watt:

For example, in the energy efficiency area, there is a budget of €4.5 billion in respect of retrofitting. The Department has to come forward with its plans in terms of how it will ramp up the various schemes and initiatives to retrofit homes and meet our commitments within the plan. In the first instance, it is for the Departments to prioritise. We have set out an envelope of spending for the first five years of the plan which is quite detailed in terms of where we will spend in different areas. The Department is charged with delivering on that. However, that might change. If, for example, there is a delay in some initiative or project, another project might take its place in terms of the queue. Ultimately, however, the Department's programme is based on the allocation it has been given.