The 130 Laois houses getting free deep energy retrofits this year

Some tenants of Laois council houses are in line for a free energy retrofit in 2023, that will make their homes cosier, cleaner and cheaper to heat next winter.

Laois County Council has listed the estates where it plans to carry out upgrades funded by the state, that can include new heating systems, windows and doors and insulation.

In Portlaoise, 27 houses in O'Moore Place are currently receiving new heating and external insulation under an Energy Efficiency program.

There are 47 more Laois houses approved for a €1.3 million upgrade in 2023.

They include 16 in Thornberry, Abbeyleix, seven in St John's Square, Portlaoise, nine in Church Avenue, Stradbally and seven in Old School Road, Ballylinan.

Goverment cash is to be sought to do a further 56 homes this year, and the council has been provisionally approved to get €36,000 on average per home.

Those include 29 houses in St Brigid's Place Portlaoise, 11 in Fr O'Connor Crescent, Mountrath, six in Erkindale Drive, Durrow and 10 in Rossmore View, Graiguecullen.

A Laois councillor says that neighbours who bought out their council houses will "never be able to carry out" retrofits.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said the cost is too high, even with the grants available to private owners.

"The deep retrofits is very successful and I congratuate the council on the way it is rolling out, particularly in O'Moore Place, they badly need it, there is no wall insulation. 

"But I raise some concern, the other half of the estate is left with no deep retrofit because they are private owners. A lot were bought on the tenant purchase scheme, they will never be able to carry out retrofits. The SEAI grant goes nowhere near the cost. Could it be raised to a higher level by the Government to subside it so people can availa of it? We need to help private owners avail of grants," she said.

She added that there are 46 council owned homes in Brigid's Place, so 17 more will need the council's upgrades.

Laois council can take over Ukraine housing for locals in 2026

In 2022, Laois County Council carried out deep energy retrofits in 158 of its council homes.

In Portlaoise 24 houses in Mountain View and 19 in Hillview Drive were upgraded.  In Portarlington 26 houses were done in Derrymore. In Mountmellick 51 houses were upgraded in Kirwan Park. Twenty more were upgraded in Quigley Park, Rathdowney and 18 in Radharc Alainn, Arles. 

Laois communities getting small slice of €12.5 million to resurface laneways

The council states that the houses were chosen by them on the basis of property age and Municipal District area.

"There will be a match funding requirement to complete al lthe retrofitting works which will depend on the tender prices returned. Once this proposal has been approved by the department, we will commence surveys of properties to inform the tender for works," Laois County Council stated in its report to the January meeting.