Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1361. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if an allocation under phase 11 of the energy efficiency programme will be made to Longford County Council in order to carry out necessary works to local authority dwellings. [36116/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme, which commenced in 2013 to improve the energy efficiency and comfort levels in local authority homes, is being implemented in a number of phases. Funding of some €115.7 million has been provided from 2013 to the end of 2017 to improve almost 64,000 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.

Phase 1 of the Programme focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation and is expected to be completed this year. Phase 2 will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction and has been successfully piloted by Westmeath and Fingal County Councils.

Phase 2 of the Programme attracts co-funding at a rate of 50% under the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020 and therefore must be implemented in accordance with all relevant EU regulations in addition to the management and control procedures as required by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Requests for Phase 2 funding, including that from Longford County Council, will be considered once the technical aspects of the scheme are finalised. Local authorities will be notified accordingly at that stage.