Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a significant delay in terms of a backlog. I certainly welcome the funding and would encourage a significant ramping up of recruitment of workers to address that. I also acknowledge the fact that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul indicated that there are around 400,000 people living in fuel and energy poverty. Age Action indicated that there are in the region of 2,000 excess winter deaths related to fuel and energy poverty. I reference the strategy to combat energy poverty 2016 to 2019. Is the Minister going to take on that baton and follow through with a number of the recommendations, including, for example, the establishment of an independently-chaired energy poverty advisory group? Is this something the Government is committed to and will commit to in the time ahead?

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