Written answers

Wednesday, 8 December 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Local Authority Expenditure

8:00 am

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider a special allocation to Cork County Council to cover the cost of heating for local authorities where no heating systems exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46630/10]

Photo of Michael FinneranMichael 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, the National Central Heating Programme, was introduced in 2004 for the installation of central heating, associated thermal insulation measures, and temperature controls in these dwellings.

This programme ended last year, following the improvement of almost 28,000 dwellings, and was replaced by the more comprehensive National Retrofitting Programme. The new National Retrofitting Programme provides grant funding up to €15,000 per unit, with a higher grant of €35,000 available for properties that have been vacant for 6 months or more, and sets local authorities the objective of achieving a C1 BER following the works.

Typically the range of works involved, depending on the unit, is as follows:

· attic insulation to meet current building regulation standards;

· replacement of windows and external doors in compliance with current regulations;

· air-tightness testing e.g. "blower-door" test and remedial action;

· wall insulation [cavity, external cladding, internal improvement, as appropriate];

· replacement of boilers over 10 years old with condensing boilers to current standards and installation of space and water heating controls;

· installation of radon protection measures e.g. external sump;

· any other measures as are required to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling.

Under this progressive programme, Cork County Council received a 2010 allocation of €1,850,000 with a further €970,000 provided to town councils in the county. To date some €706,000 has been claimed under the programme, and the Council has recently advised that it does not expect fully to draw down its 2010 allocation.

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