Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department will be providing the additional funding that may be required for Fingal County Council to support additional costs due to the high level of energy efficiency to be achieved for the 1,200 social and affordable housing units to be constructed on the Balbriggan South East LAP lands by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16663/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department will be supporting the additional funding that may be required to achieve the energy efficiency initiative recently adopted by Fingal County Council in the Balbriggan South East LAP where 1,200 social and affordable housing units will be constructed by the local authority in view of the study carried out by the Department of Environmental Studies in University College Dublin into fuel poverty experienced by local authority housing tenants; if his Department will be contacting the Department of Finance to register support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16666/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 531 together.

Fingal County Council have developed a Local Area Plan for the South East Balbriggan area which provides for the construction of some 1,800 social, affordable and private dwellings over a six to eight year period. Given the size of the proposed development, an Environmental Impact Study will be required to be prepared for submission to An Bord Pleanála. My Department supports the provision of energy efficiency measures in the construction new housing and in this regard has provided funding to local authorities for a number of social housing schemes that incorporate the use of advanced energy efficiency measures. Should my Department receive proposals in due course from Fingal County Council in relation to the construction of social and affordable housing in the area in question, that may involve the provision of additional energy efficiency measures, such proposals will be examined on their merits from the point of view of efficacy and value for money/cost benefit.