Cork City Council has been awarded €2 million in funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fast-track its building retrofitting strategy.

The grant, provided through the EIB's ELENA (European Local Energy Assistance) initiative, is specifically earmarked for technical assistance to design and prepare major energy-efficiency projects.

The financial injection is set to transform the Council's delivery capacity, with the goal of doubling the current rate of social housing retrofits from 150 homes per year to a target of 300. This scaling up is expected to stimulate local employment within the construction and specialised retrofit sectors while improving living conditions for thousands of tenants.

The ELENA funding will be utilised over a three-year period to support the preparatory stages of construction, including:

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• Energy Audits: Detailed assessments of existing building performance.

• Project Design: Developing technical specifications for deep retrofits.

• Feasibility & Procurement: Conducting assessments and planning the tender processes required for large-scale works.

• Public Building Upgrades: Creating a multi-year pipeline to bring Council-owned facilities up to modern EU energy-performance standards.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, welcomed the support during a meeting with EIB representatives at City Hall: "The ELENA grant represents a major boost to Cork City Council's capacity to deliver warmer homes, lower energy costs, and more sustainable public services. This investment will advance our retrofit plans and help us meet our ambitious climate goals."

The initiative reinforces Cork's position within the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. By focusing on assets within its direct control, the Council aims to lead the city's journey toward climate neutrality by example.

Assen Gasharov, EIB Senior Investment Manager, highlighted the importance of the partnership: "Through the EU-funded ELENA grant facility, we help cities build the technical foundations needed for large-scale, climate‑focused investment. Cork's commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability make it an excellent partner for this initiative."

The technical work funded by this grant is expected to unlock significant follow-on capital investment for the actual construction and "deep retrofit" works, ultimately leading to reduced carbon emissions and lower long-term maintenance costs for the local authority.