Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, to the House to discuss a matter of extraordinary seriousness? The fact that the insulation scheme was announced and that there is a delay until the end of March on the beginning of the scheme and on the submission of formal applications is putting a significant burden on the construction industry and has put the entire insulation business on hold. People are putting work on insulation on hold. The suppliers and the construction people are out of work as a result. Nothing will happen for eight or nine weeks in that sector. It is a significant own goal by the Government and by the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and something must be done about it immediately. We need an urgent reaction, an acceptance that a mistake was made and a correction of that mistake. It should not be beyond the genius of the respective civil servants and the Minister to put this scheme in place within 48 hours.

In parallel, we should debate providing for comprehensive insulation and refurbishment of schools throughout the country. The elimination of prefabs on those sites, the money being put back into the economy in taxation and the saving on dole payments will have the effect of being cost neutral.