The recommendation from the CCAC, and others, including Friends of the Earth, I think, relates to a problem existing with accessing the small and flexible grants for individual works, such as attic and cavity wall insulation. There are financial barriers in this regard. Additionally, these are projects that can be rolled out very quickly, between now and the end of the year, to provide insulation for people's homes. The recommendation is there. For those who want to see these projects run as efficiently as possible…

No, it does not.

She did not. That is not the case.

No, that is not the case.

No.

The Sinn Féin position is in the motion the Minister just agreed to.

I refer to €25,000 for wealthy people-----

A pensioner couple will get €1,500-----

-----to get their attic insulated.

He is not answering the question.

It is for pensioners. That is who I am talking about.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. I will focus on the need to improve An Bord Pleanála as it has an important role in this State realising its renewable potential, in particular at this time its offshore wind potential. We know that we have a great resource in this State and there is a long-term potential of 70 GW of ocean energy opportunity from wind, wave and tidal sources. Unfortunately, decades of under-ambition and painfully slow regulatory advancement has suffocated the development o…

I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward this comprehensive motion. It allows us an opportunity to talk about the crucial issue of energy security. It is important to get into the weeds on this issue and to pick apart the details. I say this because, in many respects, the Government has tried as much as possible to confuse the situation and to wrap it up in the context of events in Ukraine, internationally or in the EU. I refer to the truth of all this, though, particularly concerning energy security and the…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I support the comments made by Deputy Ó Broin. I will focus my comments, from my perspective as environment spokesperson and someone living in County Meath, on the importance of Uisce Éireann having a programme of work and seeking to deliver on that programme of work for communities and for our environment because we know that we have very particular challenges in infrastructure deficit in water and wastewater. That …

I want to return to the issue of the debacle of school transport. The Taoiseach said 124,000 tickets have been allocated. The scheme carried 121,000 people last year. The fact is-----

It did. The fact is that fewer concessionary tickets will be available this year than ever before. Why was priority not given to those people who applied on time? It has significantly reduced the number of concessionary tickets that are available. Very many of those people have been using the service for years. The Government needs to find a solution for those children.

They are the Taoiseach's figures

It is added cost for those families.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes: — the latest round of announcements of electricity price hikes ranging from 27 per cent to 34 per cent to take effect next month; and — that households are dealing with annual electricity bills, some €1,000 higher than they were a year ago; condemns the constant dithering by this Government despite the urgency of the cost-of-living crisis including: — the refusal of this Government to bring forward an emergency budget before the summer recess despite calls on them to do so, with pe…

Uber, a company we read knowingly flouted laws, misled people and sold a lie, put a huge effort into influencing transport policy here. It found a sympathetic audience in Fine Gael but, thanks to the resistance of the regulator, it did not succeed. Recently, the Tánaiste opened the door to the company again when he pointed towards the possibility of ride-sharing as a solution to the current constraints in late-night taxi and public transport. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has an ongoing recruitment campaig…