Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the better energy warmer homes scheme that delivers a range of energy-efficient measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI. By March 2021 over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades, leaving their occupants better able to afford to heat them. The scheme provides support for attic, internal and external wall insulation, draughtproofing, window replacement etc. where occupants are in receipt of carer's allowance, domiciliary care allowance and fuel allowance. This includes a high number of elderly people.

However, on behalf of a colleague of mine, Councillor John Paul O'Shea of Cork County Council, I note that on the application for completion of works nationally, the waiting time is now 26 months. That is not 26 weeks but 26 months. In my own county, 56 homeowners are currently awaiting works through the scheme with an average wait time for contractors of 22 months.These figures are shocking. By their nature, the people applying for these schemes are the most vulnerable. Therefore, the application process and completion times need to be condensed. The Government has allocated extra funds for the retrofitting scheme from the carbon tax. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to examine these measures, speed up the assessments and make sure the jobs are completed in a shorter time.

I wish to raise another issue on which I have spoken a number of times and bring it to the attention of the Leader. I refer to funding for autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes. We welcome the funding when it is made available, but I take issue with the term "ASD". The reality is that autism is not a disorder but just a different personality. I would like the term to be changed. I have written to the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, about it. I would like the term to be removed from the language all of us use. We welcome funding when it is announced by the Government because it is needed, and more will be needed. However, autism is not a disorder; it is a different personality.