Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is working with the SEAI to try to streamline the grant applications, not just for businesses, but for homes under the warmer homes scheme. Where businesses or customers successfully make an application to get onto the scheme, the scheme takes into consideration the likelihood of trying to procure a contractor. That extends out the timeline so, in effect, the timeline could be 18 months before an actual contractor is available to do it. However, I think the SEAI should measure when the actual grant is processed and approved, and then it is up to the business itself to find out when the works commence. It is a vital support, and there is a commitment to enhance this scheme into the future, with approximately €1.8 million already committed. We want to go even further in future to support business.

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