Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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1240. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the cost per unit of retrofitting at a location (details supplied) and the overall cost of the project. [46265/25]

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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1241. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether inspections are required after council funded retrofitting; and if he is aware that none were reportedly undertaken at a location (details supplied) [46266/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1240 and 1241 together.

The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a minimum BER rating of B2. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme out to 2030. 

The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit, ranging from those requiring minor levels of works to properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting required to bring them to a B2 BER rating. The actual cost of retrofitting works on each home will depend on its pre-works BER. Targets set and funding allocated to local authorities under this programme allow for local authorities to undertake a variety of house types, from those requiring minimal investment, to those requiring major investment in order to achieve the B2 BER rating. Local authorities are asked to ensure that the average cost per home recouped under the programme is circa €34,000, excluding project management fees. Adhering to this average will ensure that the maximum number of homes can be retrofitted with the available budget. 

Each year the target number of units and funding provided under the EERP are subject to the funding availability as part of the National Development Plan and annual Estimates process. 2025 saw the EERP budget provide €90 million to retrofit approximately 2,500 local authority properties. 

Retrofitting of both social housing and privately owned housing took place in 2019 at Harbour View Road using the EERP program phase one, in conjunction with the Better Energy Communities scheme (SEAI). 26 properties were retrofitted in total at an overall cost of €200,676, averaging circa €7,700 per property.

I am advised that post work inspections were carried out on social houses that were the responsibility of Cork City Council, to ensure the works were completed appropriately. In respect of any work carried out on privately owned houses, Cork City Council has no responsibility for these works and therefore did not inspect these properties.