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Almost 190 Laois homes to be retrofitted by the middle of next year

Retrofitting

Almost 190 Laois homes in seven housing estates are to be retrofitted by the middle of 2022.

Laois County Council was approved funding for two retrofitting schemes recently.

157 houses in six housing estates will see improvements carried out under the Midlands Retrofitting Programme.

While a further 31 will be upgraded under the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting and Planned Maintenance Programme.

Improvements includes expensive new electric heat pumps, new windows and doors, flat roof insulation, wall insulation and LED lights.

Work has already begun on three of the housing estates and this will be completed by the end of the year.

This involves 62 houses in Mountain View in Portlaoise, Quigley Park in Rathdowney and Radharc Alainn in Arles.

While 98 homes in Hillview in Portlaoise, Derrymore in Portarlington and Kirwan Park in Mountmellick will be complete by the middle of next year.

At the same time, 31 council homes in O’Moore Place in Portlaoise will also be retrofitted.

Tenders have been advertised for these houses and contracts are due to be signed at the end of this year.

The information came to light at a recent meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District following a motion by Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley.

The Sinn Fein Councillor also requested that a similar programme take place in St John’s Square and Brigid’s Place in Portlaoise.

She said: “Up to €50,000 will be spent on each house on a deep retrofit and maintenance. Older houses with solid walls and no insulation will be a bigger cost to carry out the work.

“This couldn’t come at a better time with rising energy costs up 30%. This is making houses warmer and lowering emissions. It’s about making the transition from solid fuel.

“One concern was raised to me, residents are asking will they be left with a stove. I don’t know the answer.

“The new windows and doors is huge because rain and damp is getting in. I ask that maybe we can get a monthly update on the work in each area.

“If there is future funding I ask that St John’s Square and St Brigid’s Place be not forgotten, keep them on your radar.”

SEE ALSO – Progress made on the improvement of six Laois rural water schemes