I raise the crazy system of the retrofitting scheme the Government has introduced. When will the Government realise it is not working and will not work because it excludes a large number of households? One example is stone-built houses that were constructed in 1965 or earlier. These homes could really do with deep retrofits but we are told that they do not qualify. Such homes are usually lived in by elderly people, parents or grandparents, who have stayed in the family home all their lives. They heat their homes with turf and timber and are now being told that they cannot do so. The Government devised a scheme suited to those with the greatest means, not those in greatest need. Homeowners such as those I mention, as well as people living in energy poverty and in greatest need of help, are being left behind by the scheme.

The latest projections from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland indicate that we are on track to achieve our target of 27,000 home energy upgrades this year. This compares with 15,500 upgrades last year. Many people are applying for the scheme, and it is up 150%.

These are the houses that need the deep retrofit.

Will the Deputy send a note to me on the specific house types he has identified? We want as flexible a scheme as possible.

Anything pre 1965 does not even qualify.

I am trying to be helpful. If the Deputy sends on the details of the house types he has become aware of that are outside the scheme, we will see what we can do to include them in the scheme. Is that fair?

Yes.