SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has written again to Patrick Harvie MSP, the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, to request an urgent meeting to discuss contingency plans for the delivery of government-funded home insulation in the Western Isles.

This follows Tighean Innse Gall’s confirmation yesterday that they would be continuing with their planned cessation of insulation works and going ahead with a redundancy process.

Allan has been liaising with TIG and government officials since September seeking resolutions to the key issues TIG have faced with the new PAS regulations on ventilation.

Despite proposals being put forward earlier this month to work around this issue, TIG have stressed the remaining issues around supply chain as well as the difficulties faced by the local workforce in accessing the required training and accreditation for the new PAS regulations.

Yesterday, Allan submitted a parliamentary question asking the Scottish Government, in light of TIG’s decision, how government-funded home insulation schemes would now be provided in the Western Isles.

After meeting with Tighean Innse Gall earlier today, Allan said:

“Households across the Western Isles have benefited hugely in recent years from Tighean Innse Gall’s expertise in installing energy efficiency measures funded by the Scottish Government, but there are still a significant proportion of island properties requiring retrofitting measures to help keep energy costs down.

“TIG have had to take a very difficult decision in circumstances which are far short of ideal. I know it is with a very heavy heart that they have felt that they needed to come to this conclusion in order to continue delivering their other services.

“Funded home insulation is needed in the Western Isles now more than ever, with electricity bills set to soar from the end of this week and heating oil prices having already skyrocketed. Without urgent action to re-start government-funded insulation in the Western Isles, as well as further support to mitigate the devastating impact of rising living costs, I fear that we will face severe public health consequences in the months ahead.”