Mr. Jim Gannon:

There are two aspects. The better energy communities model grew from an area-based model which sought to look at a certain locality, parish or electoral area to get the community involved. The more successful schemes had that aim in mind. With a programme such as this, one always sets a bar, whereby there is an evaluation matrix. Particularly where we have co-ordinators or intermediaries whose businesses are dependent on it, whether it be a social enterprise or a private sector business, they tend to move towards satisfying that matrix. We have better energy communities projects coming through. They could consist of three homes on Inishmore, two on Arranmore and three in Sligo and some businesses. We are trying to bring it back to an area based model over time. With an area based model we can look at predictability. A contractor can come into a specific area and mobilise in a much smaller one. A key component is the sustainable energy communities network. What we are trying to do is generate awareness and a competency and empower local communities to be confident enough to do some of this work themselves, while providing them with support and experts. However, we want them to do it, instead of having an organisation coming in as the expert and, because there is expertise, charging a premium. There are nearly 300 communities to be found in every county in Ireland. We provide them with support and mentors and there is oversight and funding to deliver their own master plan. That is the final point. As it is the community's master plan, we do not prescribe how it should defines its low-carbon future. The community defines it; we just give it the expertise. Ownership and locality are, therefore, critical and can provide the predictability because the community's master plan will articulate how in the next three, five, ten or 12 years it will get to that point.