Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister's answer shows a need for a national fuel poverty strategy. I appreciate that the Minister said there are two research projects going on in this area and that is important, but we have many statistics on this already. I presume the Minister agrees that levels of fuel poverty remain unacceptably high. The island of Ireland has one of the highest mortality rates for winter months in Europe with approximately 2,800 excess deaths during the winter months. While I do not suggest they are all related to fuel poverty, it is a significant part of the problem. There are strong links between low income, unemployment and fuel poverty, particularly among pensioners and low-income parents.

Despite having research projects, will the Minister examine the idea of a national strategy? His answer mentioned consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and that is important. However, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs taking responsibility for the amount paid every year and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government looking at other areas leads to an unco-ordinated approach. There have been improvements in local authority housing but that is where people have not bought out the local authority housing. A large number of people who have bought them out are still caught in the trap because the amount of grant availability to improve one's house is insufficient. Following the publication of the research projects, will the Minister give any thought to having a strategy?

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