Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government’s strategy on affordable energy highlights how addressing energy poverty is a critical whole-of-government responsibility. To that end, my Department offers energy efficiency upgrades that are free of charge to households that are at risk of energy poverty. I introduced a new scheme in 2014 that requires the main energy suppliers to deliver annual energy efficiency savings, a certain proportion of which must be in the energy poverty sector. Other Departments are also proactive in tackling energy poverty, including the Department of Social Protection, through its income supports for those in energy poverty, and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, which offers a range of supports through local authorities.

While energy poverty will of course be an important element of the forthcoming White Paper, there will also be a new Government strategy on affordable energy published in the autumn of this year. This strategy will be informed by the results of the engagement on the consultation paper on affordable energy published earlier this year. The aim of the strategy will be to focus on a small number of high-impact actions. I intend to make progress on those actions over the next three years with a view to tackling energy poverty to maximum effect.

As I noted in the consultation paper on affordable energy, ensuring that there is an adequate level of oversight and accountability will be critical to our efforts in combating energy poverty, and I would welcome engagement with the Oireachtas committees in this regard. I note that the Deputy made a submission on the affordable energy consultation paper and I very much welcome his interest and active engagement.

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