LIMERICK Council has been urged to write to the Department of Housing and Local Government seeking an immediate derogation on fossil fuel boilers from government funding schemes.
Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely took the view at November’s Metropolitan District meeting that boilers are an essential part of any home, particularly for the elderly or people with medical issues.
Referring to a number of government-funded heating and energy maintenance schemes, Cllr Kiely said that “when a boiler breaks down, it is so frustrating, and what now adds to the frustration is that older people are now only being made aware that the grant has been amended. The scheme now does not give grants to older people with a disability to allow the replacement of a boiler.”
“People are now pointed to the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland), where the cost is significantly more. You have to get a BER (rating) before you can access any SEAI grants. I believe that a derogation should have been put in place to allow boilers to be included in the grant scheme.”
The City East representative took the view that, under European directives, people are literally being “left out in the cold”and the government has “dropped the ball” by not giving a derogation on fossil fuel boilers.
Cllr Dan McSweeney (FG) supported his party colleague’s proposal, telling the council executive it is a huge issue that he has encountered since the January in relation to housing aids for the Older Persons Grants Scheme.