Deputy Michael Conaghan has welcomed the allocation of €1.5m to Dublin City Council to insulate local authority homes with very poor energy ratings.

Deputy Conaghan said: "Last month, the Minister for Housing, Jan O'Sullivan, announced a €50 million energy efficiency investment programme to insulate 25,000 homes owned by local authorities around the country over the next three years.

"Today, €10 million was released to local authorities, out of which €1.5 million went to Dublin City Council, to invest in insulating the first 5,000 homes this year. A further 12,500 social housing units will be insulated next year and another 7,500 in 2015.

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"As a result of this investment, thousands of families will benefit from warmer homes and an estimated €400 saving in heating costs per annum. This will do much to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions. It is also expected to create 1,000 jobs.

"I congratulate Minister O'Sullivan and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin, for introducing this programme. It will be money well spent.

"Tenants can remain in their homes while work is being carried out, which will take a couple of days to complete.

"Contracts will be open to both community-based, not-for-profit providers and commercial energy efficiency contractors."

(CD/JP)