Laois homes for older people get €950k upgrade
Jackie Dickinson and Fr Francis McNamara at the Wolfe Tone Court celebration. Photo: Denis Byrne
DELIGHTED residents at a housing scheme for older people in Mountmellick have warm and cosy homes, thanks to a major retrofit costing nearly €1 million.
Wolfe Tone Court, a private housing development run by a voluntary committee, has enjoyed a major BER energy upgrade, exactly 20 years since it was built.
Residents and the committee gathered in their community hall on Friday 27 February for a hot meal and the handover of 24 retrofitted homes, which have made an enormous difference to people’s comfort and quality of life.
Among those joining the celebration were Laois Co Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh, committee member and former parish priest Fr Francis McNamara, representatives of Firebird Heating Solutions and the housing scheme’s invaluable caretaker Michael Meehan.
The committee is led by former junior minister John Moloney and other dedicated members include Claire Conroy, Anne Delaney, Bobby Delaney, Eileen Delaney, Michael Gormley, Rose and Frances O’Loughlin, Pat Conroy and Anne McKane.
All 24 homes went from an original BER of a chilly D or C to an A1 rating, the highest level of energy efficiency that brings comfort and low running costs, as well as benefiting the environment.
The retrofit was funded through an application on behalf of the Mountmellick Voluntary Housing Association (MVHA), which was submitted by KH Energy Services to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the community energy grant scheme, which supports energy upgrades to approved housing bodies such as the MVHA.
The extensive works included new treble glazed windows, composite doors, ventilation, attic insulation, PV panels, heat pumps and radiators, installation of hot water cylinders and replacement of electric showers with pump showers.
It all began back in 2003, when a group was formed to provide safe and secure homes for the elderly of Mountmellick and adjoining parishes.
After securing a suitable site opposite the Garda Station, the committee applied to the Department of Housing for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme. They secured a grant/mortgage of €2,856,783 and fundraised to make up a shortfall of about €300,000, before Wolfe Tone Court was finally completed in 2006.
The major energy upgrade is part of the committee’s policy of continuing to improve the properties and the community hall.
Whatever the weather, residents can enjoy warm homes, instant hot water and the welcome absence of noise and draughts at the peaceful enclave in the heart of the town.
