Leitrim councillors oppose changes to housing aid grant

The Housing Aid for Older People Grant is intended to assist with essential repairs, ensuring an older person’s home remains in good condition so they can continue to live there.

As of January 1, applicants can no longer use the grant to purchase a new fossil fuel boiler, such as an oil or gas boiler, which was previously allowed.

Many boilers are now being replaced with air to water heat pumps.

These systems extract heat from the outside air and transfer it to the water in the central heating system, warming rooms through radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water stored in a cylinder for taps, showers, and baths.

Cllr Paddy O’Rourke has urged Leitrim County Council to write to the the Department of Climate, Environment and Energy regarding recent changes to grant funding for fossil fuel boilers, which now require homeowners to install the air to water systems.

“After Storm Darragh we all became acutely aware of how let down people were who had the air to water system in their home,” Cllr O’Rourke said.

Speaking at March’s meeting of Leitrim County Council, he mentioned a factory in Louth producing air to water systems that is shutting down due to declining sales across Europe.

“People are making their mind up and it’s in a pretty negative way,” he said.

Leitrim businesses seek rebates after power outages

At March's meeting of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Enda Stenson proposed a motion requesting that a rates rebate be considered for businesses affected by recent power outages.

He stressed that the issue must be raised to the Department, as vulnerable people should not be forced into adopting a system that homeowners across Europe have lost confidence in.

“We have to reject this,” he urged.

Cllr O’Rourke’s motion was met with widespread support.

Cllr Enda Stenson called air to water systems “unworkable,” and said the motion should be circulated to all local authorities.

Cllr Gary Prior pointed out that during power outages, a stove can provide heat, whereas air to water systems “completely fail.”

“I think it’s a disgrace that the last Government did away with the grant to replace a boiler and trying to install these instead,” Cllr Brendan Barry added.

Cllr James Gilmartin backed the motion, but acknowledged that air to water systems are effective in certain cases, particularly in newly built homes.

Cllr O’Rourke’s motion will be forwarded onto the Department of Climate, Environment and Energy.

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