I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 to 210, inclusive, together.
The management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock, including the compilation and implementation of planned maintenance programmes and the carrying out of responsive repairs, including addressing damp, and pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. My Department is committed to supporting local authorities in maintaining and improving the quality of the national social housing stock through a range of measures including large-scale urban regeneration programmes, estate-wide remedial works and improving the standard and energy efficiency of individual dwellings.
Local authorities are undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social houses over a 3 year period. Funding of €50 million is being provided over the period 2013-2015 for improving the energy performance of older local authority housing stock. This programme will improve energy efficiency and comfort levels, and therefore BER ratings, in 25,000 local authority homes.
Phase 1 commenced in June 2013 and is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties. Once a local authority confirms that all houses requiring attic/roof and cavity wall insulation have been dealt with, my Department will allocate funding for Phase 2 works which will include external insulation or dry lining of houses with solid wall or hollow block construction. The details of the 2015 programme are currently being finalised with local authorities. The identification of individual social housing units on which improvement works are carried out is a matter for individual local authorities.