Laois County Council has signed a three-year Pathfinder Funding Agreement with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
This agreement secures €26.22 million in investment to deliver a programme of large-scale deep energy retrofit projects local authority buildings across the Midlands.
Under the agreement, SEAI will provide 50% funding for both capital works and technical consultancy services, enabling delivery of ambitious retrofit projects at scale.
The programme will support up to 14 large scale projects and 22 design-and-build retrofit projects.
Together, these initiatives will dramatically reduce energy demand in public and community buildings, directly supporting the local authorities in achieving 2030 target of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the 2050 target of net zero emissions.
Laois County Council is acting as the lead authority for the Midlands Energy Agency, which was established in 2007 and includes Laois, Offaly, Longford. Westmeath and Roscommon,
To advance delivery, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) between Laois and its four partner authorities were signed by their Chief Executives in Longford recently.
Welcoming the announcement, Suzanne Dempsey A/Regional Energy Coordinator for Midland Energy Agency said: “This Pathfinder Agreement demonstrates the commitment of local authorities in the Midlands to play their part in addressing the climate crisis.
“By focusing on large-scale retrofits and working in partnership with SEAI, we are ensuring meaningful progress toward national climate targets while also delivering long-term energy savings and improved public buildings for our communities.”
Michael Rainey, Chief Executive of Laois County Council said: “By signing this Pathfinder Funding Agreement with SEAI, Laois County Council has underlined its leadership role within the Midlands Energy Agency.
“The Service Level Agreements signed by our partner local authorities are a strong statement of intent, showing the collective commitment of the Midlands to deliver at scale and to play our full part in meeting Ireland’s climate targets.”
The Pathfinder programme represents one of the most significant regional investments in energy efficiency to date, underlining the Midlands’ leadership in Ireland’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future.
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