Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

That is a sensible suggestion. I would be glad to do that. I do not have the document with me but we have published the affordable energy strategy. If the Deputy has had the opportunity to read even the executive summary, in that we set out that kind of reorientation of policy in this area.

It is not my business to speculate about the future of fuel allowance or how it may proceed. I will say only that at least in some cases, perhaps in very many, it is not the best use of money. In the work of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and work in which my Department is involved in improving the thermal efficiencies of homes, I have met some of the people concerned. Any who have had jobs done such as general or attic insulation, replacement of boiler and-or more, report a world of difference. Whatever happens, I hope we will maintain the warmer home scheme which is a far more productive use of money. However, I do not want that to be interpreted as any signal that the fuel allowance is being terminated in any way. That is not the case.

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