Employment plan is good, but where will money come from?
The document pinpoints some exciting new areas for state investment which may well be sustainable and will definitely will be green. The Green Party is to be commended on this work. However, the projections for jobs are often wildly optimistic and at times inconsistent.
The party plans to retrofit 100,000 houses a year from now until 2020 to make them more energy efficient. This will cost €500 million which will come from the National Pension Reserve Fund. This stimulus is an excellent idea. The fact that this will produce thousands of jobs; will reduce energy costs for consumers and will curb greenhouse gas emissions in the environment, are all excellent results.
