Welcome for developments on Warmer home schemes
Issued : Sunday 11 January, 2009
Areas : General
National Scheme for warmer homes- Cut in Funding
Deputy Jack Wall has welcomed the news from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, that he will shortly make an announcement on a national scheme for warmer homes following a successful pilot scheme, however he expressed disappointment that only €20million of the €100 million promised for the National Scheme will now be targeted at the scheme.
In his reply to Deputy Wall, Minister Ryan, stated that that data gathered during the pilot scheme confirmed that there is an attractive return on investment from upgrading efficiency measures in older homes, both for the exchequer and the householder.
Such efficiency measures in the pilot scheme have saved up to €700 per year for each house. The Scheme involves an initial assessment by a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor, for which the Government provide two thirds of the cost. This assessor then gives the home a BER rating and advises on the works that need to be carried out to improve energy efficiency. A grant of up to €2,500 or 30% of the cost of the works is then available from the Government to carry out these works. Works included in this programme, include attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets and cavity wall insulation.
Commenting on the reply Deputy Wall, stated "The thinking behind such a scheme is to be very welcomed, however it is with regret that we learn that €80 million is now, not to be made available to the initial national roll-out. Such work provides an ideal opportunity to re-employ those unfortunate workers from the Construction Industry, who have lost their jobs in the current climate. However, while welcoming this scheme, I am also calling on the Government to launch a similar scheme for those on low incomes and for our older population who simply could not afford 70% of the costs of such work. The recent news that Kildare County Council does not have any further money available to process their Housing Aid grants, mean that such a scheme, which would allow our Older Population in particular to continue to live in their homes is urgently required. The time has come to look at schemes which will be of benefit to the exchequer and to the individual and schemes such as those that encourage warmer homes and indeed will provide warmer homes need urgent attention" commented Deputy Wall.
