Ms Laura Behan:

There are planned retrofit programmes in place which are fully funded by the Department. Generally, however, it is considered better value for money, more effective and more cost effective if retrofitting works are carried out on an estate-by-estate basis, rather than once-off as properties become vacant. Given that there is an imperative to turn vacant housing around quickly because of the size of waiting lists and the need to reduce the time properties are vacant between tenancies, we are starting to consider it may be better for tenants and local authorities not to do retrofits at the time of a void or vacancy but in planned, full-estate ways, even while tenants are in situ.

That may be the way to tackle the need to retrofit the social housing stock.