Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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302. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of retrofitting all local authority owned housing stock to ensure that all homes have double glazed windows, draft proof doors and are properly insulated. [7894/18]

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 is a matter for each individual local authority. This includes the achievement of energy efficiency, the implementation of planned maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs. Regarding the number of houses that are owned by local authorities, the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), in their annual reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities, publishes a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the total number of dwellings in each local authority area. The most recent NOAC report containing this information shows almost 130,000 homes provided directly by Local Authorities and is available at the following link: .

My Department is currently supporting local authorities in undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting which commenced in 2013. The aim of the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme is the improvement of energy efficiency and comfort levels in local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy efficiency targets for 2020.

The programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 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.

My Department is providing grant funding of €3,500 per unit under Phase 1 and from €14,650 for mid-terrace to €17,650 for end-terrace units under Phase 2. The grant limits available under Phase 2 represent the more comprehensive suite of works, and includes a provision to upgrade poorly performing windows and doors in specific circumstances.

Funding of some €115.7 million has been provided from 2013 to the end-2017 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in almost 64,000 local authority homes. In 2018, the main focus of the available funding for the Programme will be on the completion of the remaining Phase 1 works and formally rolling out Phase 2. My Department will, shortly, be asking local authorities to submit details of their work proposals and related funding requirements for the Programme in 2018.