Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

More than 9,600 people in fuel poverty have been waiting some two and a half years to access the retrofitting programme under the warmer homes scheme. While this scheme is great for those who are lucky enough to avail of it, it is of little use to address the cost of electricity today. There are 2,900 participants on the rural social scheme, many of whom are involved in outdoor maintenance work which normally winds down during the winter months. I ask that these staff be redeployed as an emergency measure to install attic insulation, attic door covers and lagging jackets in the homes of those in fuel poverty over the coming weeks. These are the simplest and most significant measures that can be taken to reduce the cost of heating this winter, saving older people and families money, reducing their risk of illness and reducing overall energy demand in the country.

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