Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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1410. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his policy in relation to the provision of heating systems in social houses funded by his Department; if there is a move away from solid fuel cookers and heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30988/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including heating systems and the achievement of energy efficiency, is a matter for each relevant local authority, and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to their housing stock from within their own resources. My Department operates certain funding programmes to support local authorities in the development and improvement of social housing, including improving energy efficiency. Over the years 2004 to 2009, this included support for local authorities to carry out an extensive central heating upgrade programme in social housing, which saw the installation of central heating, and associated energy efficiency measures, in 27,750 such dwellings, at a cost to the exchequer of €140 million. My Department is not currently operating any programme to remove solid fuel cookers and heating systems in existing social houses.

Local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting on the least energy efficient social houses, with €77 million funding support being provided by my Department over the period 2013-201 5. To date this has resulted in improved comfort levels and Building Energy Ratings in over 30,000 local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy reduction targets for 2020.

In relation to the construction of new social housing, cost effective compliance with the current Building Regulations necessitates the use of high efficiency or renewable heating systems such as gas or oil fired condensing boilers. Whilst solid fuel stoves may, with expensive compensatory measures be used, value for money considerations together with proper regard for the health of children and the elderly in terms of outdoor air pollution would preclude use of this form of heating. The high standards of insulation achieved in new homes, compliant with the Building Regulations, will reduce the cost of water and space heating required in a three bedroom home to about €470 per annum, thus reducing the dependency on solid fuel stoves.