John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the supports available within his Department to further develop the Galway warm home hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48429/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Galway City Council adopted its statutory Local Authority Climate Action Plan in February 2024. As part of its plan, Galway City chose the areas of Newcastle, Rahoon, Shantalla, and Westside as its Decarbonising Zone (DZ) to focus on a range of climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity measures.

Galway City Council is also participating in the EU NetZeroCities Pilot Programme which supports European cities to test innovative approaches to reduce carbon emissions. Under the programme, Galway City secured €1m in funding over a two-year period to carry out a project focusing on energy efficiency in buildings in the Westside area of their DZ through a ‘Warm Home Hub’. This provides free guidance to local residents who wish to upgrade and retrofit their homes.

The two-year funding concluded in May 2025. Over this period, the Hub significantly advanced its mission to overcome barriers to home retrofitting. The model reached over 470 residents through different types of engagement, delivered 134 Home Energy Assessments, 100 Building Energy Ratings (BERs), and supported 105 households in starting to plan and carry out their retrofit actions.

In August 2025, my Department signed a Service Level Agreement with Galway City Council to extend the Warm Home Hub until the 5 December 2025. This agreement provides €30,000 in interim funding from my Department, with another €30,000 to be provided by Galway City Council. This extension period will be used by Galway City Council to explore other funding avenues.

Galway City Council is also supported through the National Mirror Group - an interdepartmental body established by my Department to oversee the progress of EU Cities Mission - and regularly provides updates on the Warm Home Hub through this forum.