Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 278 -298

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (278)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

278. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will make a decision in respect of a person (details supplied) under the domiciliary care allowance scheme. [11306/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 19th February 2016. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. Applications are processed in date of receipt order. It can currently take 12 weeks to process an application for DCA.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Ceisteanna (279)

John Curran

Ceist:

279. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue a half-rate payment to a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [11310/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the Department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 24 July 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 1 December 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. As part of a review request, additional evidence was submitted and is currently being examined. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is complete.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pensions Payments

Ceisteanna (280)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

280. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify that there were 53 weekly payments of the State (contributory) pension for the tax year 2015 and not 52 as previously indicated by his Department (details supplied). [11387/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

In the period 1 January to 31 December 2015, the Department paid state pension (contributory) on 52 scheduled payment dates to customers whose pension payment method was either to their post office or to their nominated financial institution, in Ireland.

In order to ensure that customers are paid on or as necessary before their due date, it is common practice to bring payments forward when the due date falls on a public holiday, when post offices and financial institutions are closed. This arrangement was put in place for the 1 January 2016 payment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 281 withdrawn.

Carer's Allowance Delays

Ceisteanna (282, 283)

Bobby Aylward

Ceist:

282. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme, given that the person originally applied for a payment nine months ago and is still waiting for a decision, despite complying with every request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11411/16]

Bobby Aylward

Ceist:

283. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection why an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme has been under assessment for approximately nine months, despite the person complying with every request; the average waiting time for processing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11412/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together.

I confirm that the Department received an application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 18 August 2015. It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

A deciding officer (DO) sent the file to a local investigating officer to provide him/her with a full report on the circumstances of the case to assist him/her to make a decision on eligibility. Upon receipt of the report and taking all the available evidence into account, a DO decided that the care recipient in question does not require full-time care and attention and that CA was not payable in this case.

The person concerned was notified on 17 May 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Delays

Ceisteanna (284)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

284. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (detailed supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [11463/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 8 April 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new application. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.

Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.

This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

In the meantime, if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet his needs, he should apply for a means-tested supplementary welfare allowance from his local community welfare service.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Application Forms

Ceisteanna (285)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

285. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is considering measures to provide financial assistance to applicants for social welfare payments who are currently required to provide a valuation of any unused land they may have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11467/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

In assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of property, including capital, of the claimant and their spouse/partner. Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property (including capital) owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means testing purposes. However, it does not include property such as the family home a person is personally using or enjoying i.e. residing in or a premises or a farm of land used by the claimant in carrying out a business.

Where the property is not being used to carry on a business or is not being farmed the current market value of the property or land is established (having regard to local property prices) as well as the amount of any outstanding mortgages, if any. The balance (market value less outstanding mortgage) is assessed by reference to a notional formula.

The assessment method involves disregarding an initial amount of capital (€20,000 for most social assistance schemes such as jobseeker’s allowance, farm assist and the state pension non-contributory), and applying an increasing notional weekly value for amounts in excess of the disregarded amount, as outlined.

Social Welfare Capital Means Assessment (excluding Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Disability Allowance*)

AMOUNT OF CAPITAL	WEEKLY MEANS ASSESSED
Up to €20,000	Nil
€20,000 - €30,000	€1 per each €1,000
€30,000 - €40,000	€2 per each €1,000
Over €40,000	€4 per each €1,000

For the purposes of the State pension non-contributory and carer’s allowance the amounts above are doubled in the case of a couple. From 2007, the amount disregarded in the case of disability allowance is €50,000, up from €20,000, and in the case of supplementary welfare allowance is €5,000, up from €520.

This approach reflects the policy of ensuring that those with property and capital of modest amounts receive the most available support, while those with larger amounts of capital contribute, at least partially, towards meeting their needs.

The Programme for Government contains the commitment to review the farm assist scheme, recognising the challenges facing farmers on low incomes. Any changes to the means assessment of unused land in general, and for farm assist recipients in particular, would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.

State Pensions

Ceisteanna (286)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

286. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider lowering the starting age for the State pension to 65 years of age to bring it in line with the general age of retirement; if his Department has carried out a financial impact assessment of such a measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11468/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided for increases in the State pension age over a period of years. This process began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition) previously available at 65, thereby currently standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. The changes introduced in 2011 were on foot of a Government commitment included in the National Recovery Plan published in 2010 and in the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding with the EU/ECB/IMF.

The purpose of these changes is to make the pension system sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy. More people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. In this context, the duration for which an average pension will be paid will continue to increase. The number of pensions is increasing by approximately 17,000 annually as a result of demographic change. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision, resulting in an additional cost of some €1 billion every 5 years, before other factors, such as rate increases, are factored in.

In 2013, the cost of the State pension (transition) was €137 million. While its abolition would not realise that saving in full, as some people who were affected would alternatively claim working age payments such as Jobseeker's Benefit (although at a lower rate than that of the State pension), and some may have claimed for Qualified Adults on their spouse’s pension, it is estimated that well over half of that cost may have been saved each year as a result of this measure.

The Deputy should note that there is no general retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers.

In terms of financial supports, social welfare benefits will continue to be available to the age of 66 for those who are contractually obliged to leave employment. Jobseekers whose benefit expires in their 65th year will continue to be paid benefit up until the age of 66. Where a jobseeker’s benefit claim spans two benefit years, a new Governing Contribution Year requirement is not applied to the second benefit year of a claimant aged 65 (effectively this means that they may receive payment in both years based upon eligibility in the first year).

There has not been an economic impact assessment of the effect of the abolition of the State Pension (transition). In terms of the broader economy, an increase in experienced people working longer in the economy would be expected to increase total economic output, and improve tax revenues. Furthermore, the Exchequer savings generated by the abolition of the State pension (transition) has eased pressure on Exchequer finances, and allowed the rate of pension to be maintained and increased in Budget 2016. The net financial impact on individuals aged 65 years will vary quite significantly, depending on their circumstances. Some will continue working and receive a higher income as they are still in employment, some may claim alternative social welfare payments (such as jobseeker's benefit or illness benefit) and they may have a reduced income for the duration of that year, while others who do not wish to work or claim benefits may qualify for an Increased Qualified Allowance on a spouse’s social welfare payment. There may also be a further cohort who may cease work at 65 but may decide against making a claim for any social support.

There are no plans to introduce legislation to change from the current position, as doing so would result in a significant cost to the Exchequer and further undermine the sustainability of the pension system, which already faces significant demographic challenges.

Question No. 287 answered with Question No. 276.

Social Welfare Schemes

Ceisteanna (288)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

288. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will abolish the JobBridge scheme and replace it with targeted programmes aimed at specific groups, as advocated for by groups such as Impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11470/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I have already announced that I am considering replacing JobBridge with a more targeted scheme later this year.

I believe that economic and labour market conditions have changed for the better since the scheme was introduced in 2011 and that the time may now be right for a more targeted scheme.

JobBridge was developed in 2011 in response to the unemployment crisis to serve a dual purpose. First, to help jobseekers to secure the work experience vital to enhancing their employment prospects and break the vicious circle of ‘no experience no work but no work no experience’. And second to support employers in taking the first step in recruitment at a time when access to finance was very limited and business risk was very high. JobBridge also addressed the anomaly in the social welfare code whereby unemployed jobseekers who voluntarily undertook unpaid work experience or internships lost their entitlement to a jobseeker payment. Under JobBridge participants retain their jobseeker payment and in addition receive a top up towards the cost of work of €52 per week.

JobBridge has been very successful in meeting its objectives over the past five years. It has helped about 19,000 mainly small employers to provide valuable work experience to nearly 48,000 unemployed jobseekers. An independent evaluation of JobBridge published in 2013 found that overall satisfaction levels with the scheme were very high. Two thirds of participants would recommend the scheme to a friend or family member, and levels of abuse of the scheme by employers were very low. Most notably the evaluation found that about 61% of participants progressed into paid employment within a short period of about completing their internship. This is a very high progression rate and suggests that JobBridge has been instrumental in helping about 30,000 jobseekers to secure employment.

Notwithstanding these achievements JobBridge has been subject to a high level of criticism much of which is based on anecdote or very small scale surveys by various interest groups. I intend to address these criticisms, insofar as it is appropriate or possible to do so, in the design of a new scheme. It is however important that the design of a new scheme be informed by the best evidence possible.

It is for this reason that I intend to await the results of a second large scale evaluation of JobBridge currently underway. The results of this evaluation, which is again being undertaken by Indecon, are expected in September and I will announce my proposals for a new scheme shortly thereafter.

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Ceisteanna (289)

John Brassil

Ceist:

289. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will allow casual workers to receive their social welfare payments at a post office, following changes to the way payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11480/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Most Jobseekers receive their payment through the network of Post Offices. Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance payments are made in arrears and this means that the customer’s payment for this week is based on last week’s entitlement.

This payment calculation method for Jobseekers is easy to facilitate for the majority of customers as their income position does not change from week-to-week. My Department’s payment systems ensure that jobseeker's payments are available on the same day each week to be collected from the relevant post office.

Different payment arrangements are in place for jobseekers who are also employed on a casual basis. This difference arises as these customers tend to have varying levels of income. Consequently, it is not possible to calculate their weekly entitlement until the end of their working week.

My Department has processes in place where the customer is required to declare his or her days of employment and to have these details certified by their employer at the end of each week. The weekly employment details are then submitted to my Department where an officer arranges to facilitate the payment of the relevant rate of jobseeker's payment.

Payments for casual jobseeker customers were not paid through the post office and these customers were paid by cheque. Recent system improvements within my Department have allowed for the payment of casual workers by electronic funds transfer (EFT) into a nominated bank account, rather than payment by cheque.

There are currently some 65,000 jobseekers customers who are also employed on a casual basis. All have been contacted and advised of the option available to be paid by EFT rather than by cheque. Approximately 50,000 of these have opted to switch payment method from cheque to electronic funds transfer. Feedback has been very positive from the customers themselves who are making the switch. If customers wish to continue to be paid by cheque they can make their preference known to the local Intreo Centre or Branch Office which handles their claim.

Many of my Department’s customers are in employment. My Department’s focus must be on our customers and to this end, my goal is to make payment to in-work customers directly to bank accounts rather than having such customers inconvenienced by their having two separate payment methods; payment from an employer by EFT and payment from my Department by cheque. The option for payment in cash at An Post is not being considered for casual customers due to delays this would cause to customers expecting their money on their regular payment date.

Community Services Programme

Ceisteanna (290)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

290. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to link allocation amounts paid to community groups through the community services programme to the minimum wage rate in order to subvent any increase to wage costs incurred by service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11485/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The community services programme (CSP) is one of a number of programmes and schemes operated by my Department. It provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services. The CSP provides a contribution to the wage costs of the companies on the basis that the services are not fully self-financing or the cost of provision would be prohibitive on users. My Department does not set the wage rate but requires the payment of appropriate rate consistent with local norms.

At December 2015, 398 companies employing some 2,800 employees were directly supported by the CSP. The Department estimates that, at the end of 2015, some 60% of these employees were being paid above the level of the minimum wage, in keeping with the social inclusion and social benefit objectives of the programme. The Deputy should note that the CSP accounts for less than a third of the resources generated by these companies.

Contracts of up to three years duration are provided for under the CSP. Arrangements whereby individual companies may be able to access additional financial resources to compensate for the welcome increase in the minimum wage have been put in place. Submissions are being assessed on a case-by-case basis, with the annual funding commitment being adjusted where it is found to be warranted. An advance of 50% of the contract value for 2016 has been paid to companies currently in the programme which ensures that any immediate cash-flow requirements are supported.

Overall, I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the CSP in 2016 at just over €45 million will be adequate to meet the on-going funding needs of the programme.

Social Welfare Code

Ceisteanna (291, 292, 293, 298, 305, 306)

John Brady

Ceist:

291. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the family income supplement scheme by 10% for 2017 in tabular form. [11498/16]

John Brady

Ceist:

292. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the Jobseeker's Allowance Scheme for young jobseekers for 2017 in line with those persons over 25 years of age in tabular form. [11499/16]

John Brady

Ceist:

293. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €9.50 per month for 2017 in tabular form. [11500/16]

John Brady

Ceist:

298. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the bereavement grant for 2017 in tabular form. [11506/16]

John Brady

Ceist:

305. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the weekly disability allowance by €20 for 2017 in tabular form. [11514/16]

John Brady

Ceist:

306. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €9.50 per month for 2017 in tabular form. [11515/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 to 293, inclusive, 298, 305 and 306 together.

The information that the Deputy seeks is detailed in the following table:

Measure	Cost €million
Increase the Family Income Supplement Scheme by 10% for 2017.	41.0
Increase the rate of Jobseeker's Allowance for those aged under 26 years of age to €188.00 per week.	148.4
Increase the Living Alone Allowance by €9.50 per month in 2017.	22.2
Introduce a Bereavement Grant of €850 in 2017.	20.5
Increase Disability Allowance by €20 per week in 2017.	131.2

It should be noted that:

1. The 2016 Estimate provides for expenditure of €410.3 million on the Family Income Supplement (FIS) scheme and a 10% increase in 2016 FIS expenditure would cost just over €41 million in 2017.

2. The cost of increasing the rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance, paid to those under 26 years of age, to the maximum rate of €188 per week in 2017 is €148.4 million. This measure involves increasing the €100 rate by €88 per week and the €144 rate by €44 per week. The cost also includes proportionate increases for any qualified adults.

3. The Living Alone Allowance is currently paid at €9 per week to pensioners and people with disabilities who live alone. A €9.50 per month increase equates to a €114 increase per annum, which rounds up to €2.20 per week. The cost of a €2.20 increase in the Living Alone Allowance, from €9 to €11.20 per week, is estimated to cost €22.2 million, based on the estimated number of recipients in 2016.

4. The cost of €20.5 million for the introduction of the Bereavement Grant is based on the most recent CSO Vital Statistics detailing the number of deaths (Quarter 3, 2015 and the preceding year) and assumes a similar take-up rate to that in 2013.

5. Disability Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment which is paid to persons aged 16 to 66 who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria). The estimated cost in 2017 (and a full year) of increasing the weekly personal rate of Disability Allowance by €20, from €188 to €208 per week, is €131.2 million. Each €1 increase in the weekly personal rate would cost €6.6 million in 2017 and a full year.

There is an analogous social insurance payment, Invalidity Pension, which is paid to persons who are permanently incapable of work (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria and a minimum number - 5 years - of paid Class A PRSI contributions). Each €1 increase in the weekly rate of Invalidity Pension would cost €2.9 million in 2017 and a full year.

In addition, Blind pension is available for those aged 18 to 66 who are blind or visually impaired. The cost of a €1 weekly personal increase in the Blind Pension is €0.07 million in 2017 and a full year.

It should be noted that (i) in the event of the Disability Allowance weekly rate exceeding the Invalidity Pension rate, some Invalidity pensioners (number not determinable) would transfer to the means tested Disability Allowance scheme to avail of the higher rate on that scheme; (ii) the costs shown above do not include the cost of proportionate increases for qualified adults; (iii) any additional costs which might arise as some persons in receipt of other welfare schemes might potentially apply for and qualify for Disability Allowance thereby also benefitting from a higher rate of payment than that which applies to their current scheme or (iv) offsetting savings on the Rent Supplement scheme as the additional weekly increase would reduce the level of entitlement under that scheme.

6. All of the costings above are provisional and may be subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients. The costs outlined above are based on recipient data for 2016.

One-Parent Family Payment Data

Ceisteanna (294)

John Brady

Ceist:

294. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of raising the allowance cut-off under the one-parent family scheme to 12 years of age for the child and of increasing the earnings disregard to €120 per month for 2017 in tabular form. [11501/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

It is assumed that the Deputy is enquiring about increasing the earnings disregard on the one-parent family payment to €120 per week as opposed to the stated €120 per month.

The information that the Deputy has requested is currently not available in my Department. Given the complex nature of the request, my Department will provide the information directly to the Deputy in due course.

Disability Support Services Funding

Ceisteanna (295)

John Brady

Ceist:

295. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the EmployAbility services to support an extra 1,000 persons in tabular form. [11502/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The EmployAbility service is a national employment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities who wish to take up employment. The budget for 2016 provides €9.6 million to run the service. The average cost of providing support through the service is €2,900 per customer, so if the service was expanded to support an additional 1,000 customers, the estimated additional annual cost would be €2.9 million.

Average cost per customer	Cost per 1,000 Customers
€2,900	€2.9 million

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Back to Education Allowance Data

Ceisteanna (296)

John Brady

Ceist:

296. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the back to education allowance scheme for persons under 26 years of age to €188 per month for 2017 in tabular form. [11503/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The back to education allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments that pursue courses of education at second or third level. The value of the BTEA weekly payment is equivalent to the weekly rate on the underlying qualifying payment, except in the case of jobseekers who are on an age-related jobseeker allowance payment. Jobseekers who are on such payments receive a weekly payment of €160 if approved for BTEA, subject to any deductions for means.

The Department estimates that 3,695 persons aged 26 and under are currently in receipt of an age-related BTEA payment. The cost of increasing the rate of the allowance from €160 to €188 per week (an increase of €28 per week for each affected participant) would be of the order of just under €5.4 million per year.

The figures as of May 2016 are set out as follows:

-	Rates of payment @ May 2016	Estimated annual increase in cost if the rate of payment is increased to €188 per week for all BTEA under 26 years
BTEA Weekly Rate	€160	€188
No. PARTICIPANTS
Aged 26	365	€ 531,440
Aged 25 & Under	3,330	€4,848,480
Total	3,695	€5,379,920

Fuel Allowance Data

Ceisteanna (297, 333)

John Brady

Ceist:

297. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the fuel allowance by three weeks for 2017 in tabular form. [11505/16]

John Brady

Ceist:

333. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection to extend the duration of the fuel allowance scheme for the period 2016-2017 to the number of weeks it was previously. [11821/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 333 together.

The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to 391,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €224 million in 2016. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance as part of the household benefits package to approximately 418,000 customers, at an estimated cost of €228 million in 2016.

Any decision to extend the fuel allowance season would have to be considered in the overall budgetary negotiations.

The estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance duration by 3 weeks at the current rate would be in the region of €26 million per annum.

Cost of increasing the fuel allowance duration by 3 weeks in 2017

€26 million

The best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. My Department works closely with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on these issues and in moving forward the actions agreed in the Energy Affordability Strategy. In that regard, the Better Energy Homes scheme provides support towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades.

Question No. 298 answered with Question No. 291.