Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome what the Minister stated about introducing building energy rating, BER, as a condition of rent allowance. I started that process in Government when I was in the Department of Social Protection. To be honest, I do not know why my predecessors had not done this because it is a no-brainer. When one looks at the statistics one finds that people in rented accommodation make up the largest numbers of those who experience fuel poverty.

The Minister did not answer part of Deputy's Browne's question. According to the estimates we have he is providing €64.6 million - let us say €69 million because we will not argue about €4 million or €5 million. I understand the pension levy is to be taken again this year, amounting to €30 million. Am I right? The pension levy the Government introduced last autumn is to run for three years.

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