Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is across a whole range of issues, including the volume of contractors and people working in the area. That is why the retrofit scheme is so far behind and that is why there have been multiannual transfers of budgets. It is quite unusual that it is going on two years in a row. Can we not transfer some of the budget that is not being used so we can bring more people in on this scheme? I do not doubt the figures the Minister is outlining but we need to do more.

We also need to make provision to ensure those on lower or more modest incomes, and those who are actually vulnerable, can participate in the scheme because they cannot do so at present. I have two questions. It has been purported that after 2024, the grant of €2,400 will actually go down. Why is it projected that it will start decreasing? In his reply, I would like the Minister to give us the figures for those in the farming community who are participating in the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, who are getting the capital allowance that has been allowed from this scheme? How many, and how is it working?

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