Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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It is. Thank you, Chairman. I, too, saw a statistic that showed Ireland per capita was outperforming the rest of Europe. I think it was Eurostat but I am sure that information can be found. My question is about the retrofit programme. Notwithstanding what Deputy O'Rourke said, I think there has been a price escalation but I am sure it is related to inflation. That said, I certainly am seeing an awful lot of activity and, from some of the information that has been provided to me by the SEAI, we certainly are ramping up quite satisfactorily. I have a slight concern, however, about our capacity to keep that going because of labour shortages in the construction sector. I think I saw a ministerial order or missive from the Department of higher education, from the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, about increasing the number of skilled workers in the area. Has the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications or the SEAI conducted any research to indicate whether they have identified or will identify skills shortages in the near future?

My other question relates to the warmth and well-being scheme, in respect of which I see a quite significant increase in the number of people with chronic respiratory conditions receiving energy upgrades. For instance, in 2020, it was 91 while in 2022, it was 174. Do we expect that progression to continue, or is there a peak at which the Department or the SEAI expects it to plateau and, with it, the amount of attention the Department will have to pay to individuals with respiratory conditions?

Will there continue to be a ramping up of the scheme? I ask the Minister to provide more information in that regard.