Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand the point the Senator is making relates to the wealth of the people who are contributing to emissions rather than how the tax take is distributed. In fairness, every local authority is doing retrofitting schemes for its tenants - well, they should be and most of the ones I know are doing it. If a local authority is not doing it, that needs to be tackled and the chief executive should be contacted. A lot of the retrofitting, whether through attic insulation or other schemes, was for people of an older generation and people on social protection. Some of the benefits of funds raised by way of carbon tax have been specifically targeted at people on low incomes. The Senator made a point about collecting information on the contribution to emissions and income. Industry, agriculture and transport are all major sources of emissions and it is very hard to disaggregate that down to the wealth of the people working in the individual sectors. That information is not being compiled. I take the point of view but what is important is that all funds are directed at the people who need them most.