Róisín Garvey (Green Party)
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There are 12 digital hubs in Clare. They are excellent and I have used them. The pods were fully confidential and soundproof. I used one in Ennistymon yesterday and felt there were no GDPR issues. There are good examples of hubs but it is probably not enough to leave the responsibility to the Department of Rural and Community Development alone, because remote working will be a major aspect of employment if we are to reduce carbon emissions.

Let me return to the 35%. That is the big thing. I know from having worked with schools for years under the Green Schools programme that a target is set.

The first thing you have to realise is where it is all coming from. I would love to hear about the main causes. I presume it is construction and concrete. If you are looking at 35% reduction then what are the biggest emitters that could be the biggest focus? It is probably not small businesses although they need support as well. If we are going to reach 35% then you have to have an environmental review. I presume the Department has done all this. Was it done by outside experts or how does the Department figure it out? Usually you do an environmental review of what is causing all the carbon emissions; then you set up an action plan based on that review and then you review that to see if it is working or not to get to the 35% in the short seven-year period. It is great that Mr. Hegarty said that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is offering roles in all Departments. What pay grade are they? I wonder if it is only administrative officer, AO, or something. Sometimes you see with local authorities how the most important jobs might not be at the highest grade. I would think they should be more valued. I have ecologist friends who said for years that they want people with doctorates to work for €28,000 a year. I am hoping that has changed in the last couple of years but I would be interested to see if that is the case because if we are serious about hitting targets, the Department will need some serious help. That is not only climate experts or ecologists but maybe experts who have done this in other countries where we have seen huge success. What do we need to help the Department get that 35% target and what are the biggest challenges and wins? That is a big question.