Dr. Ciaran Byrne:

I am looking at the same figures because we gave the committee those figures. It is quite significant. There are two parts to this. At that time, the schemes opened when we were in a recessionary period. A home renovation incentive was also put in place. From looking at the figures, it has decreased over a period. There has been no significant change in Government policy that would impact attic insulation in that way. Grant levels had remained static for quite a number of years prior to their uplift earlier in the year. It is not, therefore, entirely clear to us.

I will ask my colleague, Mr. O'Mahony, to give some insight into why that may be. As the Senator said, however, there may be a behavioural element to this. People were focused elsewhere, particularly during the earlier part of it. Significant work was done during the recession but it tapered off at the tailback of the recession when the construction industry definitely shrank in size.