Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his opening remarks. As regards data centres, I am slightly concerned that the Minister stated he wants to get them to the stage that they are net zero. Achieving that will be a major difficulty. How does the Minister propose to ensure it will happen? Data centres are major consumers of power. It would be wonderful to get them to net zero if that can be done. Does it mean the technical companies that are involved in data centres will be investing in renewable energy as part of the payback in respect of that? How will it work?

On retrofitting, I acknowledge the Minister stated the new low-cost loan scheme will soon be in place. I and most other Deputies are aware that large numbers of our constituents are eager to go down that path but one of the issues is that it is very difficult to find contractors. Even when there is a low-cost loan coming up and people can get a grant, it will be a number of years, certainly in my part of the world, before they will be able to get a contractor in to do the work, which is sometimes on a large scale.