Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House. The Minister stayed for most of the debate on Private Members' business last week so I will not go over the ground covered then. We are looking at energy efficiency into the future, however, so I ask the Minister to consider the request for more joined up thinking by local authorities when dealing with major energy projects under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act.

I know the Minister is well aware of the case that has been made with regard to the east-west interconnector. Citizens expect local authorities to work on behalf of the people of each local authority area. In the case of the North-South interconnector, the local authorities in the region did not work together on the question of whether the cables should be laid underground or overground. The local authority in Rush, which is in my own area of north County Dublin, did not request the rerouting of the interconnector on the basis of the precautionary principle. Meath County Council, by contrast, requested that it be rerouted around the town of Ratoath. That request was granted.

We have to learn lessons so things can be done better in the future. The Minister and his Department are ideally placed to ensure Oireachtas Members from the Government and Opposition sides and members of local authorities are honest with people when large energy infrastructure is being developed. During every discussion I have heard on renewable energy and nuclear energy, people have started their remarks by saying "wind energy is great, but", "we need energy security, but" or "the east-west interconnector is great, but". Local considerations always come into play. We need leadership in the areas of energy and energy supply. I believe the Minister can provide that leadership while he holds this portfolio. It is badly needed. I refer, for example, to the discussion about the decision to grant permission for exploratory drilling 6 km off Dalkey Island. Public meetings are already taking place.

I am not suggesting that local residents do not have genuine concerns. Where are our public representatives leading us on these matters, however? Although many concerns are valid, some of them are being driven by people on the ground in a way that is dangerous and dishonest. I use the word "dishonest" in its more benign meaning. I do not think we should be approaching these matters in this way. Many people are objecting to wind energy projects. The Minister recently visited the Arklow wind farm, which is offshore. People objected to that wind energy project when it was being developed. I cannot understand that for the life of me. Perhaps people will understand when we do not have these objections. Rossport is another example. Regardless of the views on the matter, I do not see why any energy company in the oil or gas exploration area would want to do business in Ireland if it takes 15 years to bring gas into Ireland. All Governments and all Ministers will have to determine how this issue can be dealt with better at the planning stage.

I would like to raise a couple of issues with the Minister. I welcomed the announcement he made before Christmas that the energy suppliers would not engage in any disconnections over the winter months. It was a clear statement and it was the correct thing to do. I would like an update on disconnections. Last week, representatives of the ESB and Airtricity who were interviewed on a drive time show referred to ongoing disconnections. I do not think anyone who is trying to pay should have his or her energy supply cut off. I would like to know how we will deal with this issue into the future.

Energy efficiency is the issue I really want to raise in the context of this Bill. The target that has to be met involves a reduction of 20% in consumption. I have a serious issue with the warmer homes and better energy initiatives. I appreciate that these are more straitened times. Regardless of how one looks at it, there has been a substantial decrease in the 2012 budget for these schemes. I have done some independent research with contractors in this area. Most people will agree that the external insulation and home insulation grants are very important. Not only do they create new jobs, but they also reduce energy consumption and allow people to make better use of this country's energy resources. The Minister said in his speech that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has advised that over 5,800 full-time jobs in this area were being supported in 2011, but this figure has been reduced to 4,500 jobs in 2012. I would like him to clarify that.

I have been told by a number of companies that between 1,600 and 1,800 people have been made redundant in this sector since the most recent budget. That has happened as a result of the substantial decrease in the amount of money made available for external wall insulation, in particular. The relevant sum for mid-terrace houses has dropped from €4,000 to €1,800. In the case of semi-detached and end of terrace houses, there has been a reduction from €4,000 to €2,700. This is a major issue. I have met representatives of companies in my area of Dublin. I can inform the Minister that a couple of companies which carried out almost 400 jobs between them last year are now working only on jobs that relate to grants that were issued last year. No new jobs are coming on stream. As I said to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, last week, there is a genuine risk that much of this work will be done in the black market and that substandard materials will arrive from mainland Europe.

I appreciate that the Minister has a difficult job. We do not have as much money as we would like. I will finish on this point. I do not think the debate will continue until 5 p.m. As the Minister said, these schemes used to support more than 5,800 full-time jobs. He has recognised that 1,300 jobs have been lost in this area. Major investment in major infrastructure is required. No matter what way one looks at it, the Minister lost €35 million in this year's budget. I ask him to outline what can be done to ensure the warmer homes and energy efficiency schemes are restored to the standard of previous years. I put it to him that more jobs are about to be lost in this sector. It is important that we achieve the targets that are set out in this Bill. I would like to hear the Minister's views on these matters.