Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

To give assurance to both Deputies, it is important to follow up on this in regard to looking at our Department and perhaps the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in particular regarding retrofits and to ensure that we work towards eliminating mould from properties. I say this in regard to flats and social housing stock and all housing stock. That is critically important. I have encountered this in Traveller accommodation. It is a serious public health issue. We saw the case in the UK. We are perhaps not fully aware of the impact it is having on children's and young people's health in particular. We will certainly follow up on the questions that have been put to us. Some good ideas have been brought forward and they are worthy of a response.

If we look at the retrofits, there are many good retrofit programmes that the Government has led on and funded. If the wrong retrofit programme or the wrong type of insulation takes place it involves awareness-raising with residents and tenants in regard to ventilation. The ventilation should be part of the retrofit programme. That is vitally important.

Certainly I will take back the points that have been made by both Deputies. They are valid and very useful from our perspective. As I said, the issue of mould is a very serious public health risk and needs to be eliminated. I thank the Deputies for the question.

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