James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding funding for the insulations of local authority houses in 2011 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12044/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated capital funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock. The programme includes a retrofitting measure aimed at improving the energy efficiency of older apartments and houses.

My Department requested local authorities specifically to target vacant dwellings in 2011 with the objective of returning the maximum number of vacant units to productive use at reasonable cost. However, necessary improvement works to occupied houses will continue to be eligible for funding from within the allocations notified to individual authorities.

Some €31million is being provided to local authorities in 2011 in respect of their social housing improvement works programmes. An allocation of €425,000 was notified to Longford County Council in respect of this measure. It is a matter for the Council to determine the properties to be selected for improvement in 2011.