Sir, – The Irish Times has recently carried a number of articles highlighting the stark reality that ordinary Irish households simply cannot afford the cost of retrofitting their homes. Regrettably, this comes as no surprise to those of us who had these concerns when retrofitting started. In 2021, I wrote to the then minister for the environment, Eamon Ryan, expressing serious concern that the retrofitting programme, as designed, would fail the very people it purported to help. Ryan replies by pointing to warmer homes, health benefits and long-term savings. If retrofitting is to be defended, it should be defended on the same terms on which it is being criticised.

Source: The Irish Times March 26, 2026 15:03 UTC