Tait House Offering Free Insulation Upgrades

Pictured Above (L to R):  L_R James Slattery (Insulation Manager, Kevin Davis (Installer) Maurice Quinlivan(Councillor) Tracey Lynch (CEO) Alan Hayes (Installer) Majella Conway (Client) Ciaran O Dwyer(Installer) Mayor Michael Sheahan, Bryan Hayes (Installer)

Limerick based not for profit organisation Tait House Community Enterprise have secured funding from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to provide further Free insulation upgrades to over 150 homes across Limerick City & County.

This year over 300 homes will received Attic, Cavity, Ventilation, and draft proofing measures from the Local Organisation based in Tait House on the Roxboro Road.

The Mayor Michael Sheahan, Tait House CEO, Tracey Lynch & Councillor Maurice Quinlivan paid a visit to one of the homes that was being installed with the free insulation measures and Building Energy Rating Certificate last week. Homeowner, Majella Conway of Pineview Gardens said “It’s been a very positive experience, the staff was a pleasure to deal with and very professional, I will be letting all my friends know about it. There’s no catch and the installers were in and out in one day. I am looking forward to a warm home this winter”.

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Tracey Lynch outlined the programme to the Mayor, “The aim of the programme is to address the fuel poor homes in Limerick City & county, this is a completely free service to private fuel poor homes. It is one of two projects we have operating across Limerick City at the moment.”

The Mayor added “this is an excellent free service provided to Limerick homeowners that helps to reduce heating costs making a more comfortable home coming into the winter months with lower heating bills. I know the Tait House team very well and they do excellent work”.

Cllr. Maurice Quinlivan said “It is becoming increasingly clear to me that many people are struggling to heat their homes properly and pay their fuel bills. Fuel prices are constantly increasing and the cost of heating homes can be a real struggle for many families. Therefore I believe that this project makes so much sense. What is the point of spending a fortune on heating when it is estimated that 25% – 30% of heat is lost through the walls of your home and heat loss from your roof can be as much as 35%.  Every Euro saved can and probably will be spent on local goods and services acting as a local and much needed stimulus. While residents benefit from less fuel costs the scheme also trains and upskills the workers to hopefully enable them to get a job in the future.”

Fuel poverty is a real problem in Limerick for many families and especially for some of our older citizens. Insulation will make savings and for many people it will simply mean they can remain warm in some of our increasingly cold winters. The only long term solution to the problems of fuel poverty lies in the quality of housing and the adequacy of its insulation. We have far too many poor quality, draughty homes in Limerick. I would encourage anyone who qualifies to apply for this insulation scheme as soon as possible.

Tait house operate this scheme with the support of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Department of Social Welfare.

Alongside core skilled staff, the programme also works to deliver practical, meaningful work experience to Community Employment participants. The participants are trained to Fetec level 5 on Domestic Installation and Energy advice. The programme offers a pathway to employment and an opportunity to up skill for those furthest from the Labour market.

Tracey added “when you pick up the phone to avail of this services you are also paying it forward by keeping someone in employment and supporting local jobs”.

Tait House work to SEAI Technical Specifications using Irish Agreement board approved products; they are also a registered contractor with SEAI and members of the National Insulation association of Ireland.

The applications will be dealt with on first come first served basis with scope to do a few hundred homes, any applicant over 65 can also avail of the free installed monitored alarm that is linked to the client’s nominated next of kin.

The service involves the installation of standard energy efficiency measures appropriate to the eligible household. The service is provided at no cost to the household and the measures currently available under this scheme are:

• Attic insulation;
• Draught proofing;
• Lagging jackets;
• Low energy light bulbs;
• Cavity wall insulation;
• Energy advice.
• Boiler & Heating Controls (Area Based only)

Who can avail of the Scheme?

This scheme is available to homes which meet the following criteria:

• Homeowners
• Constructed before 2002
• The owner is in receipt of one of the following:

o    Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme

o   Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and with a child under seven years of age

o   Family Income Supplement

Landlords can avail of grants from Better Energy Homes if they have tenants in, or at risk of, energy poverty.

To apply to the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme you can contact the administrators at Tait House on 061 415 340

You can also find Tait House on Facebook here.

Or read more about them here!