Skip to main content
Normal View

Housing Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Questions (496, 497, 498, 499)

Paul Murphy

Question:

496. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses covered by thermal upgrade contract number 123 (details supplied); the number of those houses that have had asbestos identified; and the number in which the asbestos is being removed. [63554/21]

View answer

Paul Murphy

Question:

497. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the asbestos identified at a location (details supplied) will not be removed as part of works given that it has previously been suggested by contractors that it should be removed. [63555/21]

View answer

Paul Murphy

Question:

498. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that a thermal upgrade (details supplied) is only targeting a C grade building energy rating when all national targets now are for ratings of B or higher; if the fact that it is not reaching a B rating will affect the ability of the local authority to receive grant support for this work; and if these houses will need another retrofitting in the future to bring them up to a B rating. [63556/21]

View answer

Paul Murphy

Question:

499. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the circumstances in which a local authority will fit stoves as part of thermal upgrades (details supplied); and the factors that are used to determine whether a house receives a stove or not. [63557/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 496, 497, 498 and 499 together.

The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan sets out the high level objectives of the Limerick Regeneration Programme and outlines the strategies to deliver on these goals.  The implementation of the plan is a matter in the first instance for Limerick City and County Council.

In respect of the thermal upgrade programme the stated objective, when the plan was adopted, was to achieve a C1 rating.  Since 2019 the Local Authority has revised this to target a B2 rating in line with the Building regulations. Where the cost is prohibitive to upgrade a house to this level, the regulations provide for a cost optimal solution.

Limerick City and County Council, as the lead agency in the regeneration programme, has carried out surveys of houses in the programme to determine a scope of works for each particular dwelling and determine the most cost optimal solution to meet the target BER rating. The provision of secondary heating systems i.e. stoves, is generally not supported and are only considered in cases where the local authority can justify their inclusion.

The Council has advised that in the course of the thermal upgrade programme, the issue of the removal of asbestos has arisen. All 53 properties in thermal upgrade Contact 123 have been identified as having asbestos.  Asbestos will typically be removed as part of a thermal upgrade contract only in cases where it represents a particular risk to the occupation of a property or to the completion of the proposed thermal upgrade works. Limerick City and County Council has advised that the asbestos identified in Contract 123 is not considered to represent a risk to occupant health, owing to its stable condition and largely inaccessible location within properties and therefore it is not being removed as part of the contract.

Question No. 497 answered with Question No. 496.
Question No. 498 answered with Question No. 496.
Question No. 499 answered with Question No. 496.
Top
Share