Results 4,541-4,560 of 8,790 for speaker:Verona Murphy

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: Who pays for that if the applicant does not?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: If the applicant did not go ahead with the retrofit, would it be difficult to recover the money for the assessment? How does one do that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: No, no. Dr. Byrne just said that if an applicant does not go ahead with the works, he or she pays for the assessment. When?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: I am not trying to be difficult. It is fairly straightforward. Dr. Byrne said paying upfront was not necessary. Is he telling me that he has people who do not go ahead because they cannot afford it once the assessment is carried out, and that they are then asked to pay for the assessment? They do not pay upfront but afterwards when they have decided not to go ahead.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: That is fine. Is Dr. Byrne concerned about the facts in the email regarding what appears to have been acceptable? Deputy Naughten was going to go ahead with the retrofit. There is construction cost inflation and there is also the cost of living but I am referring to an increase in the cost to the homeowner of 53% in three months, based on SEAI-recommended contractors. Does that concern...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: Well, it is really simple; the increase is 53% in three months. Does that sound like gouging?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: What would the rate of construction inflation be?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: This is nearly four times that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: Does Dr. Byrne agree that it sounds ridiculous?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: I did not give Dr. Byrne the specifics; I gave him the percentage. Fifty-three percent is specifically very high if Dr. Byrne is saying the rate of construction inflation is 15%.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: What kind of review is carried out by the SEAI on its contractors so it does not appear that they are gouging?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: This is not anecdotal. This is fact. This was on the record of the Dáil yesterday. This was presented to the Minister on the floor of the Dáil.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: We better not discuss individual cases. I assume that the question is on the Dáil record and will go back to the Department for an answer. A percentage of 53% needs an answer. I am very concerned that the SEAI budget has been increased by €371 million but that does not appear to serve anybody if this is what is going on.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: Whether it is €10 or €100,000, it is 53% of an increase in three months. That is fairly understandable and unacceptable. Does Dr. Byrne agree?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: That is all. I did not give Dr. Byrne figures. I asked for his assessment of that type of an increase in three months, on an assessment that was carried out at SEAI's behest and under its instruction and paid for upfront yet it turned out that the grant was not a viable proposition after. The SEAI sent in its own contractors who gave him a 53% increase in cost, on the original assessment....

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: I suggest that the SEAI conducts a review on what is submitted in terms of required assessments and what they turn out to be, and how many go ahead.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: I have faith in what I am reading and from where it comes from. If the cost amount is gouging then that fact needs to be asserted.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: I need to understand the process but I will ask my question and request that we get an answer in writing.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: I have constituents who have single-glazed wooden windows and went through the whole process of applying for the grant. The homeowners are aged 61 and 65. However, because they insulated their home three years previous they are precluded from accessing the grant. They were told they were precluded at the end stage after two assessors had spent two hours at their home carrying out an...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Verona Murphy: I will have to say now. I have a few of them that I looked up myself.