Galway homes, businesses, farms, and community organisations could be set to benefit from €7.8 million in funding for energy efficiency projects.
The funding is provided by the Government through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s Better Energy Communities Scheme which supports energy efficiency projects involving communities across different counties.
A total of €1.05 million will go towards energy efficiency improvements such as the installation of solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers, lighting upgrades, as well as window and door replacements across Galway. Recipients include Ceantar na nOilean Teoranta, Údarás na Gaeltachta in Indreabhán, the Poor Clares, and NUI Galway, including at the Arts Science Building and the Cairnes Building.
'Given the scale of climate change and the measures needed, it is clear that considerably more funding will be needed so all households in Galway can benefit from the SEAI funding'
Other projects to receive support include student accommodation and the Bons Secours Hospital in the city and schools and farms in the county. Meanwhile, €710,286 has been allocated in grant funding as part of an overall project worth €2 million to carry out deep retrofit upgrades to 42 homes across Galway.
The funding has been welcomed by Fine Gael senator Sean Kyne, however he said more such grants will be needed: “Given the scale of climate change and the measures needed, it is clear that considerably more funding will be needed so all households in Galway can benefit from the SEAI funding and carry out energy efficiency upgrades and retrofit projects as more climate action measures come into effect.”
