James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

We need an enhanced grant scheme for home insulation. Funding for the greener home scheme is not sufficient to encourage people to insulate their homes. This needs to be looked at seriously. When Deputy John Gormley became Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government he introduced two grant schemes. I understand one of those schemes has been discontinued in recent months. The Minister's spin on this was to say the schemes were being amalgamated. This matter needs to be addressed.

With regard to serious flooding of homes, I ask the Minister of State to carry out a national survey of the number of people who have requested local authorities to provide channels in front of their homes to prevent water from public roadways entering their properties. I know of huge numbers of people in counties Longford and Westmeath who have asked that channels be provided in front of their homes to prevent flooding. This problem was created by planners' decisions to locate properties in low-lying areas. The result of such a survey would be very interesting and I am sure the Minister of State will embark on such a survey.

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