Press Release – Home Energy Saving Scheme will create jobs, fight climate change and save householders money – O’Gorman

08/02/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has warmly welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan of a major new Home Energy Saving Scheme.

“The new Home Energy Saving Scheme is a major initiative pursued by the Green Party which will create jobs in the building sector, help Ireland reduce its carbon emissions and save householders up to €700 per year”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“€100 million is being made available by the Minister for Energy in 2009 for people to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes through alterations such as roof or wall insulation, efficient boilers or room control heating systems. The money will be divided into two schemes, one directed at private homes and a second directed at local authority rented accommodation or private homes with low incomes (Warmer Homes Scheme). Grants from the Home Energy Saving Scheme will be available to householders from March, but those interested in availing of them can register with Sustainable Energy Ireland immediately”.

“In the current economic crisis, this new scheme makes real sense. Energy efficiency has a huge potential for our economy, and better insulation will lead to warmer and more comfortable homes, lower gas and electricity bills and many more jobs in our communities. There is also the major benefit that this scheme will allow us take a step to reducing our carbon emissions to meet our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol”.

“I would urge anyone interested in this scheme to look up the Sustainable Energy Website and register their interest in the grants now”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
See www.sei.ie

High resolution pictures of Roderic are available at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodericogorman/

Editors Note: measures and the fixed grant rate

Roof Insulation: €250
Cavity Wall Insulation: €400
Internal Wall Insulation: €2,500
External Wall Insulation: €4,000
High Efficiency Boiler with Heating Controls Upgrade: €700
Heating Controls Upgrade Only: €500
Building Energy Rating Assessment: €200

New Standards for Rented Houses signed into law

Last week, the Minister for the Environment signed the new Standards for Rented Houses into law.

The standards can be viewed here.

Further information can be found at the Dept Environment webpage here.

New law will make landlords responsible for the maintenance of their properties

I’m very pleased to see that this afternoon, John Gormley introduced new laws regarding the standard of rental accommodation. A really important aspect of these new rules is that they clarify that landlords are responsible for all the outside of their properties such as the garden and common areas.

This is an issue that I have raised with John on a number of occasions. On many of the streets I have called to when out canvassing, you can immediately see the houses that are being rented because they are unpainted, have overgrown gardens or have gutters etc hanging off the walls. This can be really dispiriting for neighbours in these estates who take time to look after their properties. Up to know, the law has been unclear as to whether it is the landlord or tenant who has responsibility for upkeep.

Many people who I have spoken to have asked me whether there is anything that can be done about this problem.

I am delighted to see that John Gormley is bringing in this change in the law which force landlords to take care of the properties from which they are making money. I think it is only fair.

The new standards will commence from 1 February 2009 for all new properties, while existing properties will have a four year phasing in period to allow for upgrade works. Fines for non compliance will be increased from €3,000 to €5,000 and daily penalties for non-compliance after conviction will increase from €250 to €400.

Local authorities will also be given the power to prohibit a dwelling from being let out until it is in compliance with the standards. This means that the new rules will have real teeth.

Theses new standards will also significantly improve conditions for those who rent by setting out strict criteria to improve the standard of all rented accommodation. There will be a ban on the sharing of toilet or washing facilities between different rental units, a requirement for central heating or an equivalent, and further, modern standards for food preparation, laundry, lighting and fire safety.

Standards for rented accommodation haven’t actually been altered since 1993, so these changes are long overdue, particularly when you consider that the renting culture is much stronger in Ireland now than it was 15 years ago.

This new law is another example of the real changes that the Green Party are introducing in Government which will improve peoples quality of life.