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€30 MILLION IS to be invested in making thousands of local authority homes around Ireland more energy efficient.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan, TD, who said that the funding is part of a three-year jobs stimulus programme.
Under the programme, the energy efficiency of 25,000 of the poorest insulated local authority homes will be improved by 2015.
“This programme is delivering warmer homes and lower energy bills to thousands of local authority tenants,” said O’Sullivan,
She said that it is also supporting hundreds of jobs in the green energy sector, “with many community-based organisations delivering the works and providing valuable training and experience to people who were unemployed”.
Funding
The initial allocation from the funding for this year is €15m, which should complete the first phase of the insulation programme announced in June 2013.
It will mean that every local authority house will have at a minimum draught proofing, attic insulation and where appropriate cavity wall insulation, said O’Sullivan.
In 2013 more than 13,000 homes benefitted from this energy efficiency measure. When I launched the programme with Minister Howlin in June 2013 our initial target for the remainder of the year was 5,000 homes. We’ve exceeded that target and in 2014 we want to maintain the momentum behind this beneficial initiative.
Here’s how the money will be allocated:
(Can’t see the image? Click here)
The first €15m will be spent on completing the cavity wall, draught-proofing and attic insulation phase. It’s expected that the majority of this work will be complete in most areas by the middle of this year.
When this phase is complete, a further €15m will be allocated for more intensive insulation measures as part of the work.
This will see the external or internal insulation of houses with solid or hollow block construction.
Any single glazed windows or “particularly poor performing windows” and doors can be replaced during this second phase.
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And it’s all free free free! Young struggling couples with large mortgages will not be afforded the same luxury !
That’s because they mostly live in new houses which already comply with the latest energy saving building standards, although if they don’t there are also heard that can be applied for to upgrade them..
*there are also grants
Council tenants pay rent so no its not free
Same rent as renting privately ?
jesus people i dont know whats wrong with ye but i have sympathy for people that fall into either category
Young struggling couples with large mortgages are paying to get these houses insulated in the form of property tax!!!
Also, local authority tenants have their property tax paid for by the local authority who gets its money from……………………..Young struggling couples with large mortgages!
sure if they catch a chill cant they use their free bus pass to go to the doctor for free with their free medical cards and get a checkup, then get their antibiotics for free to fix them up. Meanwhile the rest of us put a jumper on and suffer through it .
and @Neal, a €500 grant is not very helpful for a €10, 000 insulation job!!
Pete,Council tenant’s pay 16% of the highest earner’s wage on rent,and €16 for each additional person living in the home ..
I wish I could afford to improve insulation in my house but I can’t afford it because I have to pay for my mortgage, doctor visits, prescriptions, fuel, travel, school costs etc etc etc. seems fair right??
If you are serious about it, look at http://www.sei.ie for grant info.
I think the SEI scheme ends this year.
No point improving your house property tax will go up then. Country is a joke
Some insulation won’t change the self assessed LPT rate.
Pete like I said u can’t afford it. Yes there a “money off voucher” available but I still can’t afford it. UK system is far more “citizen friendly”
Now for a few minister’s friends and family to set up home insulation companies, then this article will all make sense.
You got it in one! thieving ministers and councillors will be onto their mates now and contracts will be given out to these new companies.
Non English speaking polish & Litzus on 8:50 an hour do the work and officials fill their pockets.
I maybe wrong or does it sound familiar . Oh wait, does Denis Obrien own an insulation company. He will tomorrow , once word is out.
Did the same thing here in oz , turned into a debacle , a few lads died through electrocution in attics and most of the work was substandard , you will have insulation companies popping up over night with no training whatsoever
More money into social housing, this is a great country if ye don’t wanna work and jus wanna get handouts!!
Wish the government would influence private landlords to do the same for those of us who source and pay full rate for our own accommodation
True John.as usual the ones who do the least get the most help in Ireland.
Would you be willing to pay more rent then john ?
Was the bulk of social housing built in the last 20 years not already insulated?
Probably was. But i think the minimum insulation thickness has gone up so all have to be redone.
Jumbo breakfast rolls are back lads…!
What about my home?my taxes are paying to insulate someone else’s house who is more than likely to lazy to work.its a great country we live in
@nenee If, as you imply, you’re not too lazy to work, why don’t you spend the next two weekends insulating your attitude? It’s quote easy to do, and you’ll enjoy being able to climb onto an even higher horse.
How do I insulate my attitude?
So everyone in social housing is unemployed?? Well informed attitude to have.
Yep. That’s the way this country works neeneee. If you have a job you’re expected to pay for everything yourself but if you’re on welfare then everything is free. Great reward for bothering to get an education and a job eh?
Didn’t say that eillen but I’d say there’s a higher percentage of people not working than working in social housing.would you agree
@don.
There probably is, though after 20-30 years a local authority houses are privately owned.
@neenee; the lower middle class is tough isn’t it? Lol
Great little country. We don’t have a pot to piss in but money can be found to provide stuff that those living in these houses can well afford. A fcuking joke shop.
Get over yourself.
“Pot to piss in”!!
The government spend over 50 billion per year.
You’d swear they were penny less.
Yes Jeremy. Money that has to be borrowed – and paid back. Get over yourself indeed.
At least breakfast-roll man works!
I live in a council house that we bought under the shared ownership scheme. At the time a council house was all we could afford with the funds from the scheme. Every other house on our row has been insulated in the last few months, we never even got a letter in the door to say they were doing it, never mind giving us the option of getting it done as well. Bearing in mind we are renting 50% of the house from the council. Do things the right way, get screwed. We should have left school at 16, signed on and popped out a few kids. Seems to be the easiest way to get by in this country.
Im feeling bitter about this to be honest. If the people are working, as some of you are saying, then maybe a % of their wage should be taken to contribute towards the insulation? If the tenants are not working maybe they should be asked to contribute in some other way in their own communities, before receiving the insulation. It’s time for some of these long term tenants them to earn it! I don’t believe that by giving SOME people things like this for free, is really helping anyone. Just a thought as someone who has to work two jobs to pay mortgage an bills, and is 6 months pregnant!
Oh to be the squeezed middle class. Shunned by both communities socially and now the council houses are getting insulation. What about me? What about my brother who still gets the nightmares from when we attempted to install our own insulation?
HIS FINGERS STILL ITCH!!
why can this not be extended to lower paid familys who can not afford to pay the thousands needed to do this job.The grants are there but it still costs a lot.Can they not employ people from the dole and give them decent money, not scam bridge.If home owners on a low income want to avail of this service they could pay the government say ten euro a week for a couple of years.They will be saving on their power, heating so it will not cost them any more.
I am fascinated by the sheer number of people who think social housing is completely free. It is based on income, though never to the same amount as private rented accommodation of course. Back in the 90′s I lived in a council house and everyone in the estate had one job per household. Shítty paid jobs, shopkeepers and the like, but jobs. I know it has changed a lot, but it is not free, and for many, it is the only way they can afford to live. And think of it this way, it is cheaper to have people in this accommodation and look after it with the likes of insulation, than to fork out hand over fist for Rent Allowance.
I lived in one in the early 00′s
Rent was 200 p/w.
In ’92 I remember my mother having to pay £40 a week. A hell of a lot of money back then! She only earned £68. Then again, you got the weeks food for £15 with change!
As a resident in a council home that was only built five years ago our house is freezing has the minimum of insulation we freeze every winter and pay our bills like everyone else and as a result my kids and I suffer poor health because of it so I for one will be glad to see somethin being done about this it doesn’t matter where you live mortgaged house rent or whatever everyone should be entitled to a well insulated home in these struggling times it’s hard for everyone but I personally hate paying my gas bill knowing it’s all going out the roof
Get it insulated yourself, like the rest of us have to do
jaysus, its 25,000 houses, the billionaire tax-avoiders abroad must be p*ssing themselves laughing at the poor blaming the poorer & vice versa. Great Tactic, always works http://youtu.be/-F_fZXnmySc
Donna move out rent a private house with a good ber ;)
Today I was informed that the bus I get everyday to work will no longer continue it’s service because the government are refusing to subsidise the cost to the private company who are taking a loss. The government are destroying rural Ireland. They would rather I go on the dole and stay at home which is evident here. This country is a disgrace and I am ashamed to call myself irish. There are no other options for me and other mostly elderly people who depend on this simple bus service. The government are more than happy to spend millions on consultants fees and even happier to placate the lifelong council housers. The middle class is destroyed. Rural Ireland is slowly but visibly becoming a wasteland. Somebody please do our fore fathers proud and start the revolution before it’s too late.
Ben why can’t you start it ?
John before you rent look for the BER rating. If your not happy with it dont rent it. Simple. People need to look into what there voting on, buying, renting or signing up to before jumping in with two feet then pointing and blaming or moaning about problems.
The government can’t win. They’re pilloried for doing this and they’d be similarly attacked if they didn’t.
It’s a good move. Social housing is an asset to the state and it should be maintained as such.
Or else they could offer help to everyone to help insulate homes! Offer grant to cover cost and people could pay it back interest free over a number of years, through ESB bill or similar.
Such a grant scheme was implemented by Eamon Ryan when he was Minister for Energy for homes built before 2006….
Better schemes in UK. What good is a discount on insulation when I can’t afford to pay? 100% of cost should be covered like in UK
So first you said you wanted to be able to pay it back now you’re saying you want it to be completely free? Decide please?
Try reading Adam!! With this scheme people pay back the cost
UK energy policy is far worse than Irish. The scheme you mention had low uptake and the billing is extremely complex.
Keep the majority happy and they might vote for you , this is whats going on. This is not to save money on bills they couldn’t care less – look at the water – use X or else pay Yx2!!!
Ogochukwu can already feel the heat ..lol
No more candle light dinners all huddled together , let the good times roll
You can get your privately owned home insulated for free if it was build before 2006 and you are on low income. If you work you can put home improvements on your tax bill.
People would prefer to b*tch & moan though.
I’m currently working in this project. It’s a great idea, providing employment to an otherwise devastated industry..it’s so disappointing to read the negative comments, this incentive provided for the poorest functioning members of society while creating jobs.. Real jobs, I see men in vans with mortgages and responsibilities working hard every day on this…
How many of these houses have sky tv etc? If you can afford that sort of stuff you can afford insulation.
The landlord is putting in some insulation.
What does that have to do with the Tennant watching TV?
Loadsa work for laggers!
Oh…. to be a contractor doing this work, no-one inspects it, most homeowners don’t care or have the experience to know if its’ been done correctly or not….free insulation? Work away Mr. Contractor!! I’ve seen cases in my area on this scheme where the contractor has attempted to pump bead insulation into hollow block walls. Also cases where they’ve drilled holes in the wall for pumping insulation and put the pump into it but not actually pumping anything into it. Aswell as just throwing the insulation into the attic.
Most of that €30m is going into the contractors pockets as opposed to coming off residents heating bills, after all our expensive building control lessons we are still doing it wrong!! At least the to the EU we look like we are meeting our Energy Efficiency targets.
Once again home owners are discriminated
Maybe rather than asking why council tenants pay a more reasonable amount of money for regulated and tenured accommodation you should consider why private mortgage holders and especially private renters pay so much and consider the injustice from that angle?
because it is easier to bitch & moan about lowered-income people then vote Fine Gael, rather than campaign with their own communities to the councils for better services. Me-Feinism is a far easier option ;-) http://youtu.be/-F_fZXnmySc
The logic of adding insulation to a home is to reduce the heating bill and to lower the carbon footprint. So it would make sense for local authorities to offer home occupiers a grant incentive to either carry out diy work or employ someone to do the attic and the walls of council houses. Double glazing is fine but most heat is lost through the roof and walls. Open fires are also a heat loss up the chimney, so stoves are more energy efficient particularly when connected to a few radiators.
Also it must be noted that only 25000 homes will be affected by this so not everyone in a council house will get this
Will the LPT tax on these house’s increase???
Because getting walls pumped with insulation, attics insulated,doors windows replaced will add value to the property…
These tenants don’t have to pay the property tax. That’s for people who worked to buy their own home and now pay a mortgage!
They don’t pay LPT anyway.
If they did, a few rolls of fibreglass won’t add tens of thousands to a houses value.
If I could afford to private rent a house with a proper ber rating I would unfortunately I can’t and I would have no problem paying towards getting the insulation sorted I’m already paying for the heating to go out thru the roof I do understand people in private accomodations frustrations but I can only comment on my situation no one else’s
This should we done long ago. Furthermore, I believe the government should insure that building codes for new built, be they apartment, house or office building, include full insulation. Additionally, tax incentives and grants should also be worked in the budget for homeowners and landlords to fully insulate homes and upgrade windows.
In the long run, this would cut down fuel cost and heating fuel consumption.
They are.
The current building code on insulation is way higher than it was 15-20 years ago.
Doesn’t matter if the code is higher if it’s not monitored & enforced. Think the Priory Hall debacle laid pretty bare the level of enforcement of building code in this country.
Well, it is happening.
We built an extension last year which the council called to & inspected.
I assume you’re just a normal bloke who was doing some home improvements Jeremy – of course you have to meet every rule and likely pay handsomely for the honour. But if rather than an extension you were building an estate or apartment block, and enjoyed access to a steady supply of brown envelopes, you can be sure the game would be played on your terms.
The Council should employ workers directly and create proper jobs, not scabs. Contractors will force workers to declare themselves self employed and circumvent employment law. This is bull from the highest level. We are doing nothing, Irish workers left at home again.
About time tryin t keep the house warm is like havin all doors nd windows open. Shockingly shoddy walls dampness nd freezin temps. Can literally feel the drought comin in through windos nd doors.
Jesus Christ.
What about using that money to build more council homes and get more families into long term homes that are struggling as it is? In another article cluid bought 35 houses of Nama for 2.2m how many houses would this 30m get?
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