Cork City Council’s retrofit funding ‘is secure’ despite the Government's decision to close the scheme
Privately owned homes and Cork City Council housing stock on Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny are currently being upgraded with external insulation being fitted and boilers and heating controls being upgraded. Pic; Larry Cummins
CORK City Council applications for funding to retrofit local authority housing stock to make them more energy efficient will not be affected by the closure of a Government scheme.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Deep Retrofit Scheme has been closed leaving over 300 private homeowners without grants to start work on their homes for insulation and ventilation solutions.
It is understood demand outstripped funding for the pilot scheme.
Nine city council-owned apartment blocks are awaiting work to bring them in line with energy efficiency standards after councillors agreed to apply for national funding. City Hall has confirmed these will not be affected.
The blocks at Noonan’s Road, St Finnbarr’s Road, Fort Street and Dean Street have been included in an application for funding to provide older homes with poor energy ratings with complete energy efficiency upgrades.
The city council is seeking funding under the 2020 programme for the Apartment Deep Retrofit Project.
A spokesperson for the city council said: “The Housing Directorate has confirmed that the SEAI funding ...[is]not related to applications Cork City Council has made to the Department under the Deep Retrofit Scheme.
“[It is our understanding] that the funding we receive for these projects is drawn down for the most part from EU Interreg programmes and the European Regional Development Fund.
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