Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In 2016, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment commissioned a review of the level of fuel poverty in Ireland. That study estimated that 28% of households were living in fuel poverty because they spent more than 10% of their income on fuel costs. A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, which utilised the same methodology, was published in June of this year and it estimated that the rate currently stands at 17.4%. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is also currently participating in a project led by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, to establish indicators for energy poverty, which should allow for a more reliable analysis of households with low incomes and a low BER rating. This will facilitate better targeting of supports and better measurement of the impacts of those supports in addressing energy poverty. It is expected that the CSO will begin to publish reports from this project in early 2020.

Budget 2020 also included an allocation of €52.8 million for the warmer homes scheme, which funds retrofits for those living in energy poverty. This represents the biggest ever allocation for this scheme and is more than double the initial allocation for 2019.

My Department increased the fuel allowance payment by €2 to €24.50 per week. This will increase the annual amount from €630 to €686, which is a €56 yearly increase with a total cost to the Exchequer of €21 million. This will be funded by a ring-fenced allocation from the circa €90 million that is expected to be raised from the carbon tax increase. This is the largest allocation in the budget and is directly aimed at protecting our most vulnerable citizens. In 2017, the number of fuel allowance claims disallowed was 21,182. In 2018, it was 22,023. So far to date in 2019, it is 15,014.

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