Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The buy-in of householders is the key point. How much must householders undergoing a retrofit pay from their own pockets? There is an issue too with regard to pay-back. How long is it before this is recouped? Given the fact that electricity and gas prices have escalated significantly, by 25% or 30%, since Deputy Rabbitte became Minister - an incredible state of affairs - what more can be done to encourage householders to take part in this scheme and to get a greater buy-in to it? Should there be more of an onus on the energy providers? Should there be more of an onus on companies like Electric Ireland and Airtricity? Should they be responsible for undertaking to assist households have more energy efficient houses? They have got away with murder in this regard. The target of 1.5% is derisory.

On the issue of new homes, I commend the Tipperary based SERVE study on this matter. There is often a feeling that even in the past ten years since we have taken climate change seriously, building regulations have not been followed and we have not built energy efficient houses. What does the Minister intend to do in that regard? Yesterday, we raised the issue of the collapse in the social housing programme with the Taoiseach. Will the Minister make it an ambition of his ministry, along with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, to ensure that all new homes will be energy efficient and therefore provide cheaper energy for householders? The encouragement of householders is clearly the first element of the programme.

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