Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 352: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any programmes provided by him or other State agencies to assist council tenants improve the energy efficiency of their homes, particularly with reference to providing insulation upgrades or switching to more energy fuels. [33377/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In line with overall national policy which promotes a reduction in energy use, the enhancement of energy efficiency standards remains a priority within my Department's overall strategy for the improvement of local authority housing.

Under the 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 by reducing heat loss through the fabric of the building and the installation of high-efficiency condensing boilers.

Since the introduction of the retrofitting initiative in 2009, my Department has provided funding for energy efficiency improvement works to some 3,000 local authority dwellings across the country. In 2011, some €31million is being provided to local authorities in respect of their improvement works programmes. Under this year's programme there is a particular focus on returning vacant properties to productive use. Works to occupied units may also be carried out, within the allocation provided, where the local authority considers this appropriate.