Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O'Sullivan, TD, has announced that €30m will be invested in upgrading the energy efficiency of local authority homes this year.

The funding is part of a three year jobs stimulus programme that will see the energy efficiency of 25,000 of the poorest insulated local authority homes improved.

"Today I am announcing an initial allocation of €15m for energy efficiency measures in 2014. This funding should substantially complete the first phase of the insulation programme announced in June 2013 and ensure that every local authority house will have at a minimum draught proofing, attic insulation and where appropriate cavity wall insulation.

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"In 2013 more than 13,000 homes benefitted from this energy efficiency measure. When I launched the programme with Minister Howlin in June 2013 our initial target for the remainder of the year was 5,000 homes. We’ve exceeded that target and in 2014 we want to maintain the momentum behind this beneficial initiative."

The €15m initial allocation will focus on completing the cavity wall, draught proofing and attic insulation phase of the initiative. The majority of this work is expected to be complete in most local authority areas by mid-year.

When Phase 1 is complete a further €15m will be allocated for more intensive insulation measures that focus on the external or internal insulation of houses with solid or hollow block construction. In this second phase of works single glazed windows or particularly poor performing windows and doors can be replaced.

(CD)