Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I am reporting good news. The warmer home scheme has been ramped up. When I came into office more than two years ago, approximately 2,000 homes were being done but now approximately 15,000 homes are being done. It is targeting those most at risk, in particular older people who we need to keep warm in winter. It makes a transformational difference to houses if the proper insulation is put in. Some 15,000 homes are being done per year which has a significant effect.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government had a budget of €20 million to target social housing, which needed to be targeted. On a house by house basis, the energy performance of social housing is being improved. That is in addition to the increase we were able to give in very difficult budgetary times in the fuel allowance by extending the weeks to which it applies and increasing the amount. We have taken various measures in the past year which have real effect and are keeping people warm and alive.

We need, however, to go further. This is the best investment we can make in terms of preparing us for future higher energy prices and to help cut down our emissions. With the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Education and Science, who has invested similarly in insulation schemes, we are looking to continue that investment and to extend it further as part of an integrated fuel poverty strategy. That will have particular relevance as carbon tax is introduced, although I cannot go into the budget details in advance of 9 December. The scale of the investment we are making was brought home to me recently. The packages introduced by my Department and the Departments of Education and Science and Environment, Heritage and Local Government in last year's budget were the equivalent of more than €100 million. The American stimulus plan is the equivalent of approximately €400 million in the same area. At least our ambition and spend in that area is of a scale that matches anything that has been done in other countries. However, it is not ambitious enough and we have to extend and expand it, particularly in the area of social housing where people are more vulnerable.

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