APPROXIMATELY €4.7 million will be spent on thermal upgrades to more than 300 homes in Regeneration areas between now and February 2015.
Funding for the works has been provided by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Work on delivering improvements to the Building Energy Rating (BER) of 23 houses in Southill and 23 houses in Ballinacurra Weston has already commenced.
Work on an additional 266 properties in Moyross, Southill, Ballinacurra Weston and St Mary’s Park is scheduled to get underway between November 2014 and February 2015, Limerick City and County Council has announced.
Upgrades include cavity or external wall insulation, new windows and doors where necessary, central heating upgrades and attic insulation.
Caroline Curley, director of services for Home and Social Development said the energy efficiency retrofitting of the houses will greatly improve the comfort levels for tenants and home owners.
“The provision of energy efficient homes is a long-term solution to fuel poverty. Promoting energy efficiency is also a key priority for Limerick City and County Council. This particular programme of works specifically targets older dwellings, which lack adequate insulation and draught proofing.
“These very important improvement works will directly benefit the people living in these homes and will serve as a positive long-term investment in Limerick’s social and private housing stock,” she explained.
Ms Curley stated that other Regeneration area houses not included in this current programme will be included in future phases of the retrofitting programme.
Samantha Jackson, whose house at St Ita’s Street in St Marys Park benefited from a thermal upgrade during the pilot project, said: “I am thrilled with the work that has been carried out to my home. I haven’t needed to put on the heating yet such has been the improvements made.”
Under the Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan, it is proposed that 1,500 homes in the Regeneration areas will benefit from thermal upgrades.
