Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty.

In July, MABS Travellers published a report addressing energy poverty among Travellers living in mobile homes and trailers. This report, which was based on analysis of 65 households last autumn, found that 77% of Travellers who live in mobile homes are in energy poverty and spend between five and six times more on energy than the average household. The report contains recommendations which relate to a number of Departments.

The Minister has asked her officials to examine the recommendations in the report specifically in regard to the fuel allowance scheme. This scheme is intended to assist low-income households with their energy costs. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Since the analysis contained in the report was completed, the Minister announced as part of budget 2019 an extension of the fuel allowance scheme by one week, which came into effect in 2019.

It is currently a payment of €22.50 per week for 28 weeks, a total of €630, from October to April, paid to more than 372,000 low-income households, at an estimated cost of €240 million in 2019. In budget 2020, the Minister increased the fuel allowance payment by €2 to €24.50 per week. This is an increase of just under 9% and will increase the annual fuel allowance rate from €630 to €686, that is, a €56 yearly increase, which is due to take effect from January 2020.

On the recommendation that fuel allowance be paid to families sharing single-use bays, the Minister stresses that fuel allowance can only be paid when the household is on an approved site, publicly or privately owned, with planning permission for the caravan or mobile home. However, where someone lives in a residence, which is without planning permission such as in the case where an additional mobile home or caravan is placed on a bay designed for single use, these additional places of residence are not eligible for fuel allowance.

The Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the household benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €188 million in 2019 and this can provide support to eligible Traveller families. In addition to the fuel allowance and the household benefits scheme, the Department provides supports under the supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, scheme, which includes a heating supplement. This supplement may be paid to a person who lives alone or only with a qualified adult or children and who has exceptional heating needs due to ill health or infirmity. There is no standard rate for a heating supplement and each payment is awarded taking into account the individual circumstances of the case, therefore, providing for flexibility in its administration. There are currently some 1,240 recipients of this payment.

Finally, the exceptional needs payments, ENPs, may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost, which a person is unable to meet from their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. In 2018, over 2,400 ENPs at a cost of almost €631,000 were made under the ENP category of heating. To date in 2019, more than 1,200 such payments were made at a cost of €354,000. The Minister advises any persons who are unable to meet their heating costs to contact the Department's community welfare service at their local Intreo centre for assistance.

While the Department provides a range of income supports that are available to individuals to offset the cost of energy the Minister also notes that the report found that only 14% of mobile homes are insulated. What is required, therefore, to address energy poverty among Travellers on a sustainable basis are the report's recommendations relating to the need for a State-financed rental or rent-to-buy scheme to provide good quality mobile accommodation for Travellers more widely accessible.

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