The Government is to more than double its funding of a scheme to improve heating in public authority housing.
Mr Noel Ahern, Minister of State Department at the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, today announced an extra €18 million will be provided to install central heating in council homes.
Mr Ahern said the scheme, which commenced last year, had proved a major success. "I am delighted to be in a position to announce a substantially increased level of funding for local authorities, from €12 million to €30 million, to support this important programme," he said.
Under the scheme the minister's department provides local authorities with up to 80 per cent or €5,600, whichever is the lesser, for each dwelling.
The scheme provides for the installation of central heating; energy conservation items like lagging jackets, attic insulation, and pipe lining; and a smoke alarm in each case.
Mr Ahern said the programme would help local councils meet a key target in the National Anti-Poverty Strategy - the provision of adequate heating systems in all local authority rented dwellings for older people by 2007.
PA