Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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774. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 8,657 Dublin City Council homes are awaiting insulation as part of the phase 2 of the insulation programme (details supplied); when it will be confirmed that this funding is available to Dublin #City Council; and if it is not available in 2017, if he will include it in his budget for 2018. [39401/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social homes. Funding of some €107 million has been provided from 2013 to end-2016 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in more than 58,000 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. 

The insulation retrofitting programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 commenced in 2013 and is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties while Phase 2 of the programme, which has been piloted in both Fingal and Westmeath County Councils, will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction.

Dublin City Council has completed all Phase 1 works under the Programme, retrofitting over 6,700 units of its social housing stock at a cost of over €12.5m.

Based on the most recent information from local authorities, it is estimated that there are some 18,000 and 19,000 homes requiring Phase 1 and 2 works, respectively.  The main focus of the funding available in 2017 is on making significant progress on the completion of the remaining Phase 1 works, with a view to having all Phase 1 works completed by the end of 2018.  My Department will consider whether some Phase 2 works can be funded in 2018 for those authorities which have completed Phase 1.