Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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442. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the housing insulation or energy efficiency grants his Department is supporting for social housing tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18760/18]

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. 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 Energy Efficiency 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. Funding may also be provided under Phase 2 to upgrade poorly performing windows and doors in specific circumstances.

Funding of some €115.7 million has been provided from 2013 to the end of 2017 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in almost 64,000 local authority homes.

The Voids Programme introduced by my Department in 2014, also provides funding for energy efficiency works to local authority housing. During the period 2014 to 2017, works were carried out on 7,433 units under this Programme supported by funding of €34.5m from my Department.

In 2018, funding of €35 million is available for energy efficiency works under both programmes. The main focus of the available funding for the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting 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 this Programme in 2018.