Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 12 July 2022

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary)

Photo of Malcolm NoonanMalcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I will endeavour to answer as many of the questions as possible. If I do not get to a question the officials will revert to the Deputy. He will appreciate I am not responsible for these matters. With regard to the lack of information I take on board the points the Deputy has made. I understand it has been widely discussed at this committee and other fora during the debate. These are not targets that have been missed. I said in my opening statement there were supply chain issues that will carry us into 2023 and those targets will be met. There is very buoyant demand for the energy retrofit and this is to be welcomed. It is important that these targets are met, if not in 2022 certainly in 2023.

With regard to the specific question on the €150 million, it will have to be achieved later in the year. The balance will come from Exchequer funding and any underspend in the Department at year end. It is normal for this to take place and it will be there. With regard to the reallocation of the electricity credit it is the case that the number of dwellings the Department had anticipated fell slightly short. This is why the €20 million was there as additional moneys. These are moneys that were there because all households had received it.

We will have to come back to the Deputy on the number of people and families in Traveller accommodation and halting sites. The Deputy has made a valid point. It is important. They are vulnerable low-income families and this is important. It is something on which we will get back to the Deputy.

With regard to the warmer homes scheme and the achievement of 400 a month, in June 436 were achieved. We anticipate we will be on target to achieve the 478 per month by year end.