No boilers or stoves allowed in retrofitted Laois council homes, as some tenants say no

Some Laois council tenants are refusing a free retrofit of their houses.

Housing official Trevor Hennessy confirmed the fact this October at the Laois County Council meeting, also confirming that they are not allowed to leave boilers or fireplaces when retrofitting council homes.

"Retrofit grants don't cover solid fuel. If we retrofit we can't leave solid fuel heating, we won't get funding. If we pick an estate to do, we do all the houses but some have said no to retrofitting.

Cllr Ben Brennan says solid fuel heating and chimneys should be allowed.

"Housing aids for older people, they are told that you can't put in a boiler or burner, you have to use air to water, the older houses is not equipped. There's no way air to water can work. You see what happened when we had a storm, people were left without heating for five, six, seven weeks. I still think that solid fuel should be allowed.

"You're talking about climate targets, we're only a dot in the fecking ocean. For god's sake, we're worrying about those things and look at what wars are going on?.

"A year ago we had no power at Christmas but we were able to light the solid fuel fire and have heat in our house. That's what we need. 

"Older people need fair play if they're told they won't get a grant unless they put in gas or air to water.

Cllr Brennan had also asked the housing staff if every house was retrofitted in chosen estates, as he said a resident had tolm him that their house was not done. 

Laois County Council have retrofitted nearly 300 of their rental houses, and spent over €11 million. However is just over a fifth of the houses in their stock, and 78% of Laois council homes are still awaiting the energy upgrade. 

Mr Hennessy said that they get €36,000 per property from the state, to get them up to a BER rating of B2.

Work is underway on another 61 homes. They are in St Brigid’s Place (Phase 1) – 18 units with work completed on 10 units.

In Meadowbrook – 17 units with works to be completed by the end of 2025 .In Imleach, The Swan – 16 units with works to be complete by the end of 2025 also .in Triogue Court 4 units will be also complete by the end of this year. Thre are six units in other locations with work on-going Works also started this autumn on 6 units in Erkindale Drive, Durrow.

There are 50 more houses approved for money to be retrofitted so far in 2026. They are in St Brigid’s Place (Part 2), Arderin, Fr. O’Connor Crescent, Erkindale Drive (started this autumn), Rossmore View and "various locations".