Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The administration of the free electricity allowance is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. The decision taken by the Minister, as referred to in the Deputy's question was, I understand, necessary to achieve savings in the household benefits scheme as budgeted for in the 2011 budget. The impact of the decision of the Minister for Social Protection was to restore the number of electricity units provided under the electricity allowance to 2007 levels. My responsibility in this general area encompasses the issue of energy affordability. I recognise the valuable role the fuel allowance and free electricity allowance play in the mitigation of energy poverty. These schemes are part of a variety of measures necessary to tackle the root causes of energy.

My focus is on implementing the 48 actions contained in the affordable energy strategy published last weekend. We have identified five central actions in the strategy. These include a commitment to review the national fuel allowance 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 the five priority work packages.

It is my strong belief that enhancing the energy efficiency of low-income homes through permanent structural improvements is the most effective means of addressing energy affordability. To date, almost 76,000 homes have been improved under Better Energy: Warmer Homes. As the Deputy will know, splendid leading-edge innovative work has and is being done on this by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, with the assistance of officials in my Department who have devoted a great deal of time to the plan we announced on Sunday.

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