Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The average would be a ratio of approximately 2:1. For example, if people are getting a grant of €4,000, they are expected to put up approximately €8,000. In the current climate, this is something to cause homeowners to reflect on whether to retrofit and this is one of the reasons I am in the process of compiling a new pay-as-you-save scheme, which will have the merit of not requiring the homeowner to put money up front. The idea would be that over a period of two or three years, the renovation would be funded from the savings that would accrue.

This is a far more complex undertaking than it may sound. I have had considerable discussions with the two pillar banks and with the two chief executives of the banks who would be required, as well as the supply companies, to come to the tape on this. The end product must be attractive to the homeowner because the message on energy efficiency is still not adequately made. I hope that whatever product we settle on eventually will be accessible, intelligible, simple and attractive to homeowners. As the Deputy has said, the quality of much of our built environment leaves a lot to be desired. Building regulations either did not exist or were flouted in the past and we are left with the legacy of that.

I have had discussions with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, and my officials have met his officials to discuss what contribution they can make in the context of the affordable energy strategy we published some months ago.

See this speech in context