Fianna Fail has raised serious concerns after it was revealed that only 46 homes in Leitrim accessed funding under the Better Energy Homes scheme last year, compared to 4,791 in Dublin.

Just over 100 homes in Sligo accessed grants under the scheme which are used to upgrade insulation in houses and enhance energy performance.

Fianna Fáil TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Deputy Eamon Scanlon, said the figures show "massive disparities across the country in terms of the number of homes that are accessing funding to upgrade their homes".

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He said: "Getting a grant to insulate your home or install a better boiler is not only good for the environment; it can help struggling families save money on their energy costs and makes the home a more comfortable place to live, particularly for older people or people with certain respiratory and health conditions.

"These figures should be triggering alarm bells in Government Buildings- what is the point of having these grant schemes if most people are not aware of them and a result, miss out on them? I am calling on the government to start a major awareness campaign, so that people can become familiar with the different grants and upgrades their homes might be eligible for."

(CD/LM)