Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of homes included in the programme for the installation of central heating in existing local authority rent dwellings in the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the level of funding provided for this scheme in the same years on a county basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45508/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has, over the past number of years, overseen a significant exchequer investment in the improvement of heating systems and energy efficiency of the existing stock of local authority dwellings. Although central heating has been provided in all new local authority dwellings as a matter of course since 1994, there were an estimated 36,000 dwellings constructed prior to this date without central heating. To address this deficit, a special four-year programme was introduced in 2004 for the installation of central heating, associated thermal insulation measures, and temperature controls in these dwellings.

The national central heating programme, completed in 2009 to allow for the carryover of some works commenced in 2008, provided for a co-funded grant of €6,000 or up to 80% of the cost, whichever was the lesser for each local authority unit improved under the programme. The balance of the cost was met by the local authority from its internal capital receipts. Under the programme, my Department co-funded the installation of central heating, and associated energy efficiency measures, in some 28,625 local authority dwellings at a cost to the exchequer of €140 million, as set out below.

These figures do not take account of units improved under various remedial works, voids schemes, or local authority's own pre-letting repairs programmes. Information on the allocations provided to each local authority under the scheme in 2008 and 2009 is available in the publications section of my Department's website www.environ.ie . A more comprehensive national retrofitting programme was introduced in 2009 which provides for a combination of works to improve the energy efficiency rating of the social housing stock.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a certain proposal (details supplied) and if so, the position regarding the matter. [45572/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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A proposal to lease 25 houses in Carrigaline, Co. Cork was received from Cork County Council by my Department on the 19 November 2010. The proposal is currently under consideration in my Department in accordance with the terms and conditions of the initiative.