Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities receive grants from his Department to carry out works which would improve the energy rating and environmental efficiency of local authority properties; the amount of funding allocated for such grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17196/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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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 the local authority housing.

Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock. This year's programme includes a retrofitting measure aimed specifically at improving the energy efficiency of older apartments and houses by reducing heat loss through the fabric of the building. On 1 March 2013, I announced capital allocations of €10m to local authorities in respect of energy efficiency retrofitting works for this year.