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Minister Hogan’s Pledge to Committee to Consider “One Stop Shop” for Housing Grants a Positive Development

7 Iúil 2011, 18:00

Streamlined System Would Improve Homes and Save Money

7 July 2011

Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD has promised to consider the possibility of establishing a One Stop Shop for local authority insulation housing grants following a request by an Oireachtas Committee today.

Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and Local Government put the proposal to the Minister at today’s meeting. It was argued that such an arrangement would avoid the current situation whereby some local authority tenants cannot access insulation grants because of the duplication in Government Departments handling the grant applications.

Committee Chairman, Ciaran Lynch TD said;
“Under the current system, tenants in local authority housing and those in private accommodation access different Government Departments to obtain an insulation grant.

This means that those in social housing, even though they would be willing to make a contribution to the cost of insulation, are not eligible to apply directly for insulation grants to the Department of Communications and Energy. Instead, they often have to wait for long periods for their local authorities to carry out this work.

This means that they are effectively “locked out” of the scheme. They are willing to pay towards the cost of the insulation but are not permitted to do so.

This makes no sense whatever. A one stop shop system for both home owners and tenants of social housing would streamline this. It would result in more people having access to proper insulation for their homes and would save the State money as many local authority tenants would be willing to pay a contribution to the grant.

We are pleased that the Minister is open to our suggestion and has resolved to examine it. The Committee hopes it can be a conduit for ideas which will be taken on board by the relevant Ministers.”

   ENDS

For further information please contact:
Daniel English
01 618 4484
087 6949926

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