MIDLAND ENERGY RETROFITTNG 2020

Midlands Retrofit Programme

O’Brien allocates €3.3 million to Longford County Council for Social Housing Retrofitting

-          Retrofit of homes in Granard, Longford and Ballymahon municipal district to make them warmer, healthier and more comfortable. Homes will emit less carbon dioxide emissions.  

-          Works to be funded by the Carbon Tax.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has allocated €3.3 million to Longford County Council for the retrofitting of local authority-owned houses in the county. The retrofitting of homes in Granard, Longford and Ballymahon Municipal Districts will result in warmer, more comfortable homes and benefit householders’ health through improved air quality. After the works, the Building Energy Ratings (BER) of homes will typically have gone from an E- or D- rating to a B2. They will be expected to be substantially cheaper to heat than similar homes heated by oil or gas.

The works, which are part of the Midlands Retrofit Programme and funded by the Carbon Tax, are due to begin in October. Works will typically involve insulation, upgrades of windows and doors and installation of heat pumps (renewable energy heating systems), as committed to under the Programme for Government. This will help Ireland’s efforts to combat climate change. About 40% of Ireland’s energy-related carbon emissions are from buildings.

Commenting on the allocation, Minister O’Brien said: “I’m delighted to allocate €3.3 million to Longford County Council to retrofit these homes. This is proof of the Carbon Tax in action to improve people’s lives - in this instance for people on low incomes. These works will make homes warmer and easier to heat for householders, some of whom are elderly and feel the cold. Householders’ health will benefit from improved indoor and outdoor air quality, and those currently using oil or gas will see a saving on their energy bills.”

Minister O’Brien added: “Making homes across the country more energy efficient and heated by renewable energy sources is a priority for this Government. The Midlands Retrofit Scheme is an important pilot project for the Government’s plan to retrofit 500,000 homes across the country by 2030. It’s also an important part of the Just Transition, which includes a commitment from the Government that nobody is left behind as we move to a low-carbon future. I would urge Longford Council to forge ahead as quickly as possible to use this allocation, which will improve the quality of life for people in Longford and help reduce our carbon emissions.”

The Elected Representatives and Management of Longford County Council welcome the commitment from central government to retrofit and upgrade social housing stock to improve energy efficiency. These works are a key measure in tackling climate change, which will also improve the quality of life for the tenants in these homes and the quality of social housing stock. The retrofitting of homes is a key measure in tackling climate change and delivering on the Government’s Climate Action Plan.