Donegal’s free retrofit training initiative has commenced in Dungloe, engaging local homeowners and tradespeople in accredited sessions focused on enhancing energy efficiency and promoting sustainable building practices.
The NZEB (Near Zero Energy Building) Retrofit Mobile Training Unit is now moving to Letterkenny, from Monday, July 21st, to Friday, July 25th.
This program, a collaboration between Donegal Local Development CLG (DLDC), the National Construction Training Campus, Mount Lucas, and LOETB, delivers specialized knowledge and practical training directly to communities.
In Letterkenny, participants can access a one-day NZEB Fundamentals course, designed for tradespeople and those interested in energy-efficient construction, as well as a two-hour Retrofit for Homeowners session. This homeowner course will cover practical home improvements, understanding BER ratings, improving insulation, and accessing SEAI grants.
Throughout the week, the mobile unit will also offer drop-in advice clinics providing guidance on energy-saving strategies, grant applications, and green financing options. Representatives from local Credit Unions will be present to offer information about retrofitting loans.
Specifically for homeowners impacted by defective blocks, a special evening information session will be held on Wednesday, July 23rd, from 4 PM to 6 PM at ATU Donegal. Neil Gallagher will lead the session, offering advice and answering homeowner questions.
Retrofit Training Kicks Off in Dungloe – Letterkenny Next from 21–25 July – at the the Dungloe event are seated from left Aisling Sharkey, DLDC, Patrick Carr, DLDC, Donna Campbell DLDC and Suzanne Bogan, Donegal County Council. Back from left are Phelim Guinan, Mount Lucas, John Flynn, Efficent Renewables, Teresa McDonnell, DLDC, Thomas McIntyre Teh Cope and Neill Gallagher, DLDC. Photo Clive Wasson
Aisling Sharkey, Community Development Officer at DLDC, expressed her satisfaction with the community’s engagement and encouraged residents of Letterkenny to participate. “We were delighted with the strong turnout in Dungloe. There’s clearly a growing desire in Donegal to improve home efficiency, affordability, and climate readiness. This program brings expert training conveniently to people’s locations—and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.”
The Dungloe training, running from July 14th to 18th, attracted participants from various sectors of the community. These included tradespeople seeking to enhance their retrofitting skills, as well as homeowners interested in improving the comfort, energy performance, and long-term savings of their homes. The advice clinics were well-attended, and the evening session on defective blocks provided crucial support and information to those affected.
Margaret Larkin, Head of Operations at DLDC, emphasized the significance of accessible training in rural communities. “We’re pleased to collaborate with Mount Lucas in bringing this accredited training to Donegal. It supports continuous learning, enables informed energy decisions, and strengthens the resilience of our homes and communities.”
Attendance is free for all events, but spaces are limited, and advance booking is essential. To register or for more information, please visit www.dldc.org, call 074 9127056, or email info@dldc.org.
Retrofit training kicks off in Dungloe was last modified: July 16th, 2025 by
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