A Louth TD has criticised the Government for failing to provide a clear timeline on when all social housing in the county will be fully retrofitted. Sinn Féin’s Ruairí Ó Murchú raised the issue in the Dáil last week, asking Housing Minister James Browne to outline when council-owned homes in Louth would be upgraded to modern energy standards. However, no specific timeframe was given in response. Deputy Ó Murchú said Louth County Council has a strong track record in delivering retrofit projects and should be
supported to complete the programme across all eligible homes. In response, Minister Browne said the government would continue to engage with the council ‘to look at how we can accelerate the delivery of retrofitting to improve the quality of lives of people living in social homes in Louth’, but didn’t give a specific timeframe. Deputy Ó Murchú said Louth has one of the longest lists for social housing and doesn’t have enough money for maintenance. He added: “The reality is that from time to time
you are robbing Peter to pay Paul and cannot always deliver to meet actual needs.” “People who have been tenants for many years and who may not have looked for anything from the local authority previously will come to you with issues, particularly in relation to windows and doors. In a perfect situation, if you can get them on the list for retrofitting, it means that at least you can ensure that they are in a house that is properly insulated and warm and that
they will not be facing astronomical costs during the cost-of-living and cost-of-fuel crises. “It is about ensuring that we can deliver in respect of the need that is out there. I am of the view that the timeline is never going to be met”. Minister Browne said he had visited Louth recently to officially open new housing units although he acknowledged the large waiting list for social housing and the levels of homelessness. But Deputy Ó Murchú said the focus of his question was on
retrofitting and said Louth County Council had previously been able to retrofit above the number in the targets it was given. He said: “Even at some stages, they had produced more one year than the target and funding they were provided for again. It is about ensuring we get a timeline that is achievable within the near future, because we want to see the whole issue of retrofitting and the issue of the insufficient maintenance budget dealt with for those who are not in appropriate
places”. Minister Browne said it was recognised that retrofitting is important for people’s quality of life and said the council had an excellent record of delivering in housing. He said: “It is a council that other councils could look up to in terms of how it delivers and maintains properties. “I acknowledge there are particular challenges Louth faces as a rapidly growing county with two rapidly growing towns, so it is incumbent on the Department of housing to keep focus and to support local authorities”.
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Louth social housing, retrofitting, Dáil, Ruairí Ó Murchú, James Browne, energy standards, Louth County Council, maintenance budget