Budget 2015: Social housing investment and renovation scheme reaction

Investment in Social Housing
The Environmental Pillar today welcome government investment of €2.2bn in social housing provision but are calling on the government to ensure this housing is of the highest energy efficiency.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin today announced an investment of €2.2bn for social housing provision over the next three years.
It is vital that the government work to the highest energy efficiency thresholds for this housing stock for the benefit of the government, the homeowners and the environment.
High efficiency standards on homes built and renovated now will give the government the maximum return on that investment, it will see the homeowners benefit from much lower energy bills and will reduce our national reliance on fossil fuels.
‘Many housing developments during the boom were poorly insulated and low quality. It is vital that we don’t repeat these mistakes. We want the government to create a new social housing stock that will last into the future. It is vital that the houses that are built are of the best possible efficiency so that the poorest families are not left paying high energy bills into the future and increasing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels,’ said Charles Stanley-Smith of the Environmental Pillar.
Housing improvement and renovation incentives
The Environmental Pillar also welcomes the government’s plans to expand the home renovation incentives but points out increases in the energy efficiency of Ireland’s housing stock must be sought.
It is important that these measures work to increase the efficiency of homes so that the improvements made under the schemes continue to give value to Irish families far into the future.
‘Improving the housing that we already have is vital to relieve the current housing crisis and will begin the redevelopment of our decaying town centres. It is important that we future proof all our housing stock so that communities can get the most value from the buildings we have into the future, today’s announcement is a positive begining’ said Charles Stanley-Smith of the Environmental Pillar.
One initiative very much welcomed by the Environmental Pillar is the investment of €47m in upgrading the energy efficiency of 10,000 low-income homes.