Mr. Michael Manley:

The very first point the Deputy raised was on the delivery model. One of the first actions of the climate action plan is setting up a task force to consider the delivery model for what we want to do. Taking the point others have made on how we deal with apartment blocks, bring things together and deal with the issue of quality, on the Continent some of the groups give guarantees of 35 years regarding energy-efficiency projects. Thus, if someone does energy efficiency work on a house, it is guaranteed for 35 years. How we do that without locking out the small contractors, who will not be able to get the bonding and insurance related to finance of the level in question for that period, will not be not easy.

With regard to smart finance, the relevant action in the climate action plan is No. 54. This has been embarked upon. We have engaged with NewEra and SBCI. How can we put together a package that combines State support and cheap EU money and can cascade down to the retail level? There is not much point in doing so unless we get the delivery model right. If we put too much money into the system too soon, it will simply result in an escalation of price. We have, therefore, got to create the delivery model for a very expanded programme so that as the money comes in, it will work. Otherwise, money will be put into the process with little or no gain.