The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Pat Rabbitte TD, recently launched the strategy Warmer Homes: A Strategy for Affordable Energy in Ireland, which sets out a vision for improving the affordability of energy for low-income households, ensuring that people can live in warm and comfortable homes that enhance the quality of their lives and support good physical and mental health.
Minister Rabbitte said: “We can’t forget those most in need – particularly as we face into another winter. We need a strategy that prioritises what can be done to protect low-income households.”
The strategy was developed by the inter-Departmental Group on Affordable Energy, and includes 47 actions that will be implemented over the life of the strategy.
Key Highlights Include:
The introduction of minimum thermal efficiency standards for all properties offered for rent;
Reviewing the National Fuel and Household Benefits Schemes so see how we can target cash supports effectively and prioritise colder homes;
Achieving economies and harnessing community effort by the introduction of an area-based approach to mitigating energy poverty.
The Minister added: “This is not something we will achieve overnight. The Programme for Government was clear that we needed a new way of thinking about the whole issue of energy poverty. The publication of this strategy marks a hugely important milestone in ensuring that we protect those most vulnerable in our society in a co-ordinated, cohesive and effective way.”
Importantly, the strategy also introduces a new approach to measuring energy poverty, which will help target at-risk households. The strategy will be implemented and monitored by the members of the Inter-Departmental Agency Group on Affordable Energy, who will prioritise five work packages in the coming months (thermal efficiency standards, energy suppliers, area-based approach, data and information, and communication).
The moves were welcomed by Labour Party TD for Dublin North Central, Mr Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. “The Affordable Energy Strategy to deal with fuel poverty is a comprehensive programme to address the pressing needs of the most vulnerable citizens to make their homes more energy efficient and to provide them with a more comfortable living environment. In addition, those homeowners who bought their houses before 2002 will be able to avail of facilities to insulate their homes and bring them up to better energy regulations. This is a very positive initiative which will aid those who were unfortunate enough to acquire homes which were not subject to stricter regulatory guidelines.”
“Further, this Government will make energy improvements in approximately 60,000 homes across the country to the tune of 100 million euro. This is the largest ever spend on such an initiative by any Irish government. Moreover, the Minister’s commitment that there will be no disconnections for families struggling to pay their energy companies shows further Labour’s influence in government,” he said.
“I believe these are fair and progressive steps which the coalition parties have taken. Furthermore, I am positive that they will lead to better and smarter energy efficiencies in homes across this country whilst protecting those most at risk of fuel poverty,” said Mr Ó Ríordáin.
