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Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018

Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Ceisteanna (630)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

630. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be provided to 68 houses from two housing estates (details supplied) in County Kildare that are without central heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4082/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including heating systems and the achievement of energy efficiency, is a matter for each relevant local authority, and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to their housing stock from within their own resources.

My Department operates certain funding programmes to support local authorities in the development and improvement of social housing, including improving energy efficiency.  Over the years 2004 to 2009, this included support for local authorities to carry out an extensive central heating upgrade programme in social housing, which saw the installation of central heating, and associated energy efficiency measures, in 27,750 such dwellings, at a cost to the exchequer of €140 million.

It should be noted that my Department is not currently operating any programme to install heating systems in existing social houses. However, local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social homes. The Energy Efficiency Retrofitting programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties, while Phase 2 of the programme, which has been piloted in both Fingal and Westmeath County Councils, will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction. Heating upgrades will be considered in future phases of the Programme. In the meantime, if a local authority identifies a tenanted dwelling, which requires a specific and urgent energy efficiency upgrade, especially in those dwellings which accommodate elderly people and people with disabilities, then a special case can be made to my Department to have these works funded.

I understand that Kildare County Council is currently in contact with the residents of both housing developments referred to by the Deputy and are consulting with them to assess the most appropriate course of action to address the issues arising.

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