Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The State bore the cost of the increased units. Because we give people units rather than an amount of money, all of those on the household benefit scheme continue to get that but the State quite rightly bore the extra cost for them. While the fuel allowance is intended as a contribution to heating costs for part of the year, the electricity and gas allowances help people with their heating, light and cooking costs all year round. In addition, about 4,000 people who have specific heating needs due to infirmity or a particular medical condition are currently receiving a heat supplement through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered by community welfare officers nationwide.

Deputy Enright will also be aware that the Money Advice and Budgeting Service which is funded by the Government provides practical help to people who are experiencing difficulties paying their bills. There has been quite a demand for its service this year and it has provided valuable assistance.

As has been stated by a number of speakers throughout the debate — indeed, Deputy Enright was quick to quote me — income support and advice, while important, are only part of the answer in terms of reducing fuel poverty. Proper household insulation is absolutely vital. Initiatives, as outlined by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, such as the warmer homes scheme, operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland under the aegis of his Department, have a valuable role to play in that regard, as does funding from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government through the pilot central heating scheme, for example. Co-ordination of the work of the relevant Departments and agencies is crucial to ensuring the effective delivery of a comprehensive approach to tackling fuel poverty. While various bodies have significantly increased the resources they are directing at fuel poverty initiatives in recent years, the establishment of an interdepartmental group on energy affordability has helped to ensure that we are working closer together to maximise the potential of our collective efforts.

The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has already outlined meetings that have taken place. There have been discussions, at both a formal and informal level, with the various Ministers to see how we can improve on the schemes that are likely to help with insulation, windows and heating. That has also included the Minister for Finance in the context of the budget and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. There has been a good deal of research done on this which is also feeding into work that we are doing. Sustainable Energy Ireland has been responsible for some research in this area because everything we do must be evidence based.

We are trying to tackle fuel poverty from a number of different angles. Income support is a valuable part of that. The significant increases in payment rates have helped. Further improvements in payments will obviously be a priority for me should funding be available. Unfortunately, everything must be looked at in the current budgetary context. Of all of the demands that are being made by the various groups, energy is one of those that keeps coming to the fore. It came to the fore at the pre-budget forum I held only last week, which was attended by approximately 30 organisations representing different strands of society, particularly the most disadvantaged and the vulnerable. While each group was seeking increases in its own area of interest, the need to which most attention was drawn was the need to support people in paying the cost of their fuel this year. That will be my major priority this year.

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