Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

As Deputy Martin Ferris will be aware, I published the affordable energy strategy, which meets our commitment in the programme for Government, at the weekend. This strategy will be the framework for building upon the many measures already in place to protect households at risk from the effects of energy poverty. These include the thermal efficiency-based measures delivered through the better energy-warmer homes programme. I am convinced, and the available research confirms the fact, that providing energy efficiency improvements to homes in, or at risk of, energy poverty, results in benefits to recipients in terms of energy affordability, tangible health improvements and overall well-being. This will be my guiding policy philosophy in implementing the 48 actions identified in the strategy. We have identified five priority measures including a commitment to review the national fuel scheme in the context of examining the feasibility of aligning income supports with the energy efficiency and income of the home, the phased introduction of minimal thermal efficiency standards for rental accommodation, ensuring greater access to energy efficiency measures, reforming the eligibility criteria for energy efficiency schemes and framing the work of the interdepartmental agency group on affordable energy on five priority work packages.

The overarching vision of the new strategy is to achieve a situation whereby households are able to afford all of their energy needs and where families live in a warm and comfortable home that enhances their quality of life and supports good health. Improving the energy efficiency of low-income homes through permanent structural improvements is the most effective means of addressing energy affordability. Since 2006, over €70 million has been expended on providing energy efficiency improvements in almost 76,000 homes under the better energy-warmer homes programme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on behalf of my Department. To date this year, 16,391 homes out of a target of 20,000 have been retrofitted. Better energy-warmer homes programme is primarily delivered by 28 community-based organisations, CBOs, which work in partnership with their local networks of poverty and community support organisations to identify and address vulnerable homes. Private contractors are also engaged to address areas or technologies not covered by CBOs.

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