With the support of my Department, local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting on the least energy efficient social housing homes.
The programme has two components:
- Phase 1 of the programme commenced in June 2013, with the aim of eventually ensuring that the entire social housing stock will have, as a minimum, wall insulation and attic insulation (300mm). To this end, the programme was initially targeted at the less intrusive cavity wall insulation, as well as attic insulation.
- Phase 2 of the programme will focus on the fabric upgrade works to those remaining dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction. Two local authorities, namely Fingal and Westmeath County Councils, have completed Phase 2 pilot projects, while other local authorities including Cork & Dublin City Councils have already begun Phase 2 works.
It is proposed to roll out Phase 2 of the programme to all local authorities in 2017. It should be noted that funding of some €107 million has already been provided from 2013 to 2016 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in over 57,000 local authority homes.