Dáil debates

Wednesday, 13 October 2010

6:00 pm

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Private Members' business should be about debate.

A second issue I have been considering is the fact that a high percentage of those who suffer fuel poverty live in rented accommodation. As Deputies are no doubt aware, a high percentage of rented accommodation, especially that rented by those on low incomes, is paid for indirectly through the rental subsidy scheme. In conjunction with the Private Residential Tenancies Board and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, I have been examining whether it is possible to ensure that people who rent accommodation could be sure of the BER rating of their accommodation.

To cite an example, 2% of owner occupied households versus 14% of accommodation rented below the market rate and local authority rent-free households reported that their accommodation was not comfortable in the winter. Similarly, 2% of those residing in detached houses versus 9% of those residing in apartments, bed-sits and flats reported that their accommodation was not comfortable or warm in the winter.

In addition to the warmer homes scheme, which is of great importance and in which my Department can play a central role, it will be necessary, through the rent allowance scheme, to address the issue of rented accommodation because all the evidence points to the effect that those in rented accommodation are suffering grievously from fuel poverty, despite being in receipt of the free fuel scheme. A large body of work remains to be done in this area and I will direct my attention towards this phenomenon in the coming months to try to ensure that this specific highly vulnerable group is dealt with.

Every statistic available to me shows that one parent families are the most vulnerable cohort in society. All the poverty statistics, when done analytically, including those on fuel poverty, show that this group always comes out on top in terms of deprivation. I will focus my attention on ensuring that this particular cohort is not left behind when fuel poverty is being addressed.

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