COMHAIRLE CHONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, February 12, 2007
QUESTION NO. 10
QUESTION: Councillor K. Warren
To ask the Manager to give an update on the current insulation programme by South Dublin County Council to install proper insulation in all houses by a specific date, if he could give a breakdown of the number of houses that are expected to receive this new standard and what number are likely to be insulated to the new standard after 2007, and if he will make a statement on the matter?
REPLY
South Dublin County Council are committed to the objective of bringing all of our housing stock to a common quality standard in the next 3 years. This will be achieved through accelerated programmes of installation of gas fired central heating; external wall & attic insulation; window replacement / upgrading; mains smoke alarm installation and a series of Refurbishment programmes.
External cavity wall and attic insulation works have a significant impact on the energy efficiency of our housing stock. The current programme of insulation works has resulted in tenants saving money on their heating bills, their homes are warmer and more comfortable and the programme contributes to reducing climate change. There has been a very positive response from our tenants to date where the works have been completed, as the benefits are felt immediately.
Up to half of the heat loss from a house occurs through the walls and this loss is greatly reduced by insulation works. Many houses built before 1990 have no insulation, as the requirement to have wall insulation was not introduced until the 1991 Building Regulations came into effect. In addition attic insulation prevents heat loss from the home of up to 30-35% and can result in savings of up to 20% on tenants annual home heating bills. Under the Councils Energy Action Programme a total of 2,161 houses had attic insulation works completed prior to 2004. Where necessary, attics insulated under the Energy Action programme are upgraded again under the Cavity Wall & Attic Insulation Programme to comply with current building regulations which were amended in 2006.
In August 2005 funding approval was received from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for a programme of wall and attic insulation works to a total of 670 houses. The Council appointed two contractors to carry out these works in four estates: Killinarden, Drumcairn and Kilcarrig estates in Tallaght and St. Marks Estate in Clondalkin. The Programme will continue to be rolled out to the remaining estates requiring insulation works. The table below lists the estates currently included in the cavity wall and attic insulation programme:
|
Summary of Cavity Wall & Attic Insulation Programme |
||
|
Estate |
No of houses |
Progress |
|
St. Mark’s Estate |
220 |
Completed May 2006 |
|
Kilcarrig Estate |
101 |
Completed Nov 2006 |
|
Killinarden Estate |
197 |
Completed May 2006 |
|
Drumcairn Estate |
160 |
Completed Nov 2006 |
|
Neilstown Estate |
108 |
Commenced December 2006 |
|
Knockmore Estate |
147 |
Commenced December 2006 |
|
Rowlagh Estate |
137 |
To commence Spring 2007 |
|
Donomore Estate |
279 |
To commence late 2007 |
|
Liscarne Estate |
39 |
To commence late 2007 |
|
Glenshane Estate |
197 |
To commence late 2007 |
|
Harelawn |
155 |
To commence late 2007 |
|
Total |
1,740 |
|
Approximately 300 houses were built prior to 1975 which are unsuitable for cavity wall insulation as most are of solid wall construction. A housing stock survey will be carried out on the pre-1975 housing stock this year which will recommend the most suitable means of insulation. Approximately 5,800 houses in South Dublin County Council’s housing stock were built between the years of 1975 and 1990. Of these approximately 600 houses have been refurbished to date, with a further 200 houses to be refurbished in the next phase of works.
It is anticipated that the remaining 3,200 houses will be completed under the Insulation Programme in 2008 and 2009.