Home insulation scheme to boost jobs

A national home insulation scheme aims to create 4,000 jobs and slash household heating bills by up to €700 a year.

Up to 50,000 houses will be upgraded in the Government’s €100m programme which will also cut carbon emissions.

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan said the insulation scheme will help boost the economy while saving money and energy.

“This is what our people, our homes and our economy need at this time,” he explained.

“Central to Government spending in sustainable energy is to get the economy back on track.

“We need to replace the spending and lending that has contracted and re-focus our public and private investment.”

“Insulation makes homes warmer and more comfortable.”

Mr Ryan said householders can expect to have their heating bills reduced by up to 700 euro per annum.

“This means more money in people’s pockets. Construction workers will benefit from the thousands of jobs these measures will create. These will be jobs for trades people throughout the country.”

Environment Minister John Gormley, who co-launched the scheme at Government Buildings, said it was a badly-needed overhaul of the country’s housing stock.

The programme will include low income and social housing as well as private homes.

Mr Gormley said upgrading local authority housing will also help tackle fuel poverty, particularly during cold weather.

“Heating will not be wasted going out the roof or up the chimney,” added Mr Gormley.

“Reducing energy use and CO2 emissions will also help us meet our climate change targets.

“This is a programme that benefits the economy, the environment and the householder at the same time”.

“The programme will consist of a number of grant schemes,

Grants to support a range of improvements will be available.

The individual schemes will be administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland and homeowners can apply from next month.

The programme is open to all houses built before insulation and heating regulations were introduced in 2006.