Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has outlined some figures. Timelines are very important in terms of the outcomes we expect to see and I would appreciate if they were put in place.

I wish to make three brief points. Retrofitting is very welcome and I am pleased the pilot scheme is being rolled out. I am aware the pilot scheme is just dealing with houses within local authority housing stock, but it is important that as we move forward we would look at the opportunity for private homeowners to be able to avail of retrofitting also.

Bord na Móna's headquarters is in Newbridge and, as it is looking at making changes, buildings will be available there. It would be wonderful to see an educational facility such as a third level college there along the lines of An Foras Talúntais, which we used to have in Lullymore, that would be involved in education and research on horticulture and bogs.

The final point I wish to make relates to horticultural peat. It is appalling that those who are involved in the nursery industry, employing 6,000 people directly and providing 11,000 ancillary positions, still have no option at this point but to bring in peat from Lithuania and Holland, which obviously has a significant carbon footprint and is three times the price. The Government has provided no viable alternative solution or some type of scenario whereby nursery owners could use Irish horticultural peat. The issue must be addressed.