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

As the Deputy knows, under the warmer homes segment of the better energy programme, the State bears the total cost of refurbishment of houses. The others are grant based incentive schemes in respect of houses in the private sector. We expect an additional 10,000 homes to be refurbished this year. This does not take into account the moneys being spent by my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on local authority houses. All of the evidence available at the time we were putting together the affordable energy strategy indicated that thermal efficiency was the most significant aspect in improving the quality of living of people vulnerable to energy poverty.

The Deputy referred to the decision made by the Minister for Social Protection on the fuel allowance. One could the pay allowance all year round and it would not have the same impact as the insulation and retrofit programme. The area based initiative is very important. As the Deputy will be aware, there are some houses clustered in particular estates, the quality of which is exceptionally poor and they need to be refurbished.

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