Cllr Sean O’Brien

O'Brien hits out at ongoing Tullamore retrofit delays

Funding approval for retrofitting work on some 42 local authority properties in Tullamore is still to be given, Offaly County Council heard last week.

Late last year, Offaly County Council invited tenders for work on the properties which comprise twelve on Clontarf Road, ten on Marian Place, eight in Arden View, six in Thornsberry Estate and six in Kilbride Park.

The work involves the provision of external wall insulation, the replacement of external windows and doors, attic insulation, and the installation of electric heatpump water and space heating systems.

Offaly County Council's Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney's monthly report to members for the June meeting of the council this week indicated that the works are still awaiting departmental funding approval.

It prompted Cllr Sean O'Brien to ask: “What is the issue?”

He said the council was discussing retrofitting as part of a Just Transition for the last two years.

“Last November, these houses in the Tullamore area were announced. Not one has been retrofitted. Here we are in June and there is no approval of funding from the department.

“If the Government is serious about Just Transition, why can't they approve the funding?” he asked.

Meanwhile, the report before the meeting showed that retrofitting works on 34 local authority houses in Birr are due to be completed this month. The works are on nine homes in Mill Street, three in St Brendan's Villas, two in Woods Row, two in Bulfin Park, seven in Bengal Lodge, three in Grove Street, and eight in High Street,

A plan to carry out retrofitting work on 47 homes in Edenderry, Daingean, Clara, Ferbane, Shannonbridge and Cloghan is at an earlier stage.

Consultants have prepared the tender which will be advertised when and if funding is approved.