Energy upgrades announced for Ennis Town Council dwellin

Ennis Town Council announced this evening that it will shortly commence a major retrofitting programme that will result in almost 130 Ennis Town Council dwellings benefiting from energy upgrades.

The Local Authority has received funding from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to carry out energy efficiency works to 69 Council houses. 35 of the properties are located in the Cloughleigh area with the remainder situated in Turnpike, Dalcassian, St Clare’s Close and the Old Military Barracks area.

Works, which are already underway in Cloughleigh and will commence elsewhere next week, include ceiling level attic insulation, cavity wall insulation, CFL bulbs and post works BER. The works are expected to be completed by mid-October. In accordance with the terms of the scheme, the homes selected for upgrades had to be constructed before 2002.

Meanwhile, the Council has received further funding from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to carry out energy retrofitting works to 59 separate Council-owned dwellings in the Waterpark, Woodgrove and Roslea areas.

Surveys of homes in the areas concerned are currently being carried out to assess their suitability for energy upgrade/retrofitting works. Works scheduled to be undertaken include roof insulation, cavity wall insulation and draught proofing.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr. Mary Coote-Ryan said: “I warmly welcome this investment programme for the energy efficiency retrofitting of social housing in the town as it will not only greatly improve the comfort levels for Council house tenants, but it will also create new employment opportunities”.

Commenting on the retrofitting programme, Acting Town Clerk Catherine O’Hara stated: “Promoting energy efficiency is a key priority for Ennis Town Council. Our energy retrofitting programme for 2013 targets older dwellings, which lack adequate insulation and draught proofing. In this regard Ennis Town Council secured funding from the SEAI, under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Schemes. ”

Meanwhile, Ms. O’Hara confirmed that Council housing units in other parts of the town will be considered in future retrofitting programmes.

“The provision of energy efficient homes is a long-term solution to fuel poverty. In this regard we are aware that some dwellings, in particular in the Hermitage and Clancy Park areas will remain without adequate basic fabric insulation or thermal saving measures and our objective is to target these properties when further funding becomes available,” she explained.