Irish Urban Development Minister Michael Finneran attended a one-day conference

on Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings in Dublin earlier this week.

The talks were a collaboration between the Environment Department and the Irish Georgian Society.

Minister Finneran said: "Improved energy efficiency in buildings has been a key element in the Government's efforts to combat the effects of climate change and to reduce our dependency on diminishing fossil fuels.

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"We should also consider that some of today's modern buildings will be the historic buildings of the future, including what may today be regarded as quite ordinary domestic dwellings," he said.

The Minister said the schemes now in place from the Department of the Environment (the Civic Structures Conservation Grant Scheme and the Local Authority Conservation Grant Scheme), the Revenue Commissioners Section 482 tax relief provision and the recently announced National Insulation Programme administered by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources will assist owners in the conservation of historic buildings.

"Technical advice is also available from both Departments when owners are considering the choices to be made in improving energy efficiency in their properties," he added.

(PR/JM)