Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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240. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost per unit to local authorities of refurbishing and or retrofitting existing units in each of the past five years for which figures are available by county; the cost per unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39943/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including the implementation of planned maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs, is a matter for each individual local authority.

The Exchequer funding provided by my Department under the voids programme is to support the return of vacant units to productive use for re-letting in an energy efficient condition at a reasonable cost. This funding is available as an additional support over and above what local authorities provide themselves towards such work and the authorities can and do contribute additional funding if they so wish. Table 1 below gives details of all the units returned to productive use since the commencement of the programme and the allocation thus far in 2017.

Table 1: Voids Programme – Average cost of units from 2014 to 2016

Furthermore local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social homes. The aim of the Programme is the improvement of energy efficiency and comfort levels, 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 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, 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.

The funding made available by my Department is subject to limits depending on the nature of the retrofitting work. Under Phase 1, the grant limits are currently set at €3,500 per unit while the grant limits relevant to Phase 2 are €14,650 for mid-terrace and €17,650 for end-terrace units, reflecting the more complex works required under this phase.

From 2013 to end 2016, funding of some €107 million has been provided to improve58,000 local authority homes. The average cost of retrofitting these units is €1,833 per unit, with the bulk of the units upgraded under Phase 1 in accordance with the relevant limits.

Details of the average per cost per unit, broken down by local authority for the years 2013 – 2016, are set out in table 2 below.

Table 2: Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme – Average Costs 2013 - 2016

*Figures include Phase 1, some Phase 2 (2015/2016) and special projects outside Phase 1/2)

Local authorities are continuing to undertake works under the programme in 2017 and submit claims for funding on an on-going basis as works are completed. As such, my Department does not yet have complete figures for the average costs of units retrofitted this year.