FINBARR
A €2 million grant from the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been secured for a three-year (2026-2028) project to facilitate the preparation work required to underpin a major programme of energy-related activity across Cork City Council’s public buildings and social housing portfolio.
Funded under the ELENA (European Local Energy Assistance) technical assistance scheme, FINBARR ('Financing Investment Needs in Buildings to Accelerate Retrofit & Renewables') will provide the resources needed to enable the delivery of a range of background work such as detailed energy audits, project design, feasibility assessments and procurement planning in order to unlock substantial planned follow‑on investments in energy efficiency and solar panel installations over the coming years. This will variously address a set of Council-owned housing stock units and public facilities including leisure centres, libraries, multi-storey carparks and depots – delivering improved energy performance, reduced emissions, and enhanced comfort for residents and building users.
The award strongly leverages Cork’s designation among Europe’s pioneering climate action cities through the EU Climate-Neutral & Smart Cities Mission and, in particular, last year’s securing of the coveted ‘Mission Label’ – a formal EIB validation of the ‘’bankability’’ of future local plans to secure climate-related investment. It also provides opportunities for Cork City Council to demonstrate local leadership by setting an example in undertaking deep retrofit and renewables installations with its own properties in the hope of inspiring similar action by private and commercial premises owners across the city.
At his February 2026 visit to City Hall to sign off on the grant, the EIB’S Senior Investment Manager, Assen Gasharov commented that the securing of the grant is a recognition of ‘’Cork’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability [which] make it an excellent partner for this initiative. We look forward to seeing this work unlock long‑term environmental, economic, and social benefits for the people of Cork.”
Contact: brendan_fehily@corkcity.ie