Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 40:

In page 14, after line 7, to insert the following:“10.The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on fuel poverty, in the context of climate change targets and the “Just Transition” framework, to include a consideration of these issues as they affect:

(a) those in receipt of housing assistance payment or rent supplement;

(b) those in receipt of fuel allowance; and

(c) those whose receipt of fuel allowance is impacted by turbary rights.”.

This is probably one of the most time-bound amendments. The Minister will be aware of the consideration of the just transition that is currently happening. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Joint Committee on Climate Action and we are examining at issues relating to just transition. A number of issues directly relate to her Department. There has been a significant focus on the fuel allowance. It is one of the key issues as the price of carbon is increased to reflect its cost. We have to ensure that the most vulnerable persons are protected from the impact of those increased prices, including with fuel allowance as it relates to our climate change targets and just transition, and also consideration of a particular cohort who I think will be affected, which is those in private rental accommodation.

I tabled a Commencement matter about the retrofitting of private rental and local authority housing and spoke to the Minister, Deputy Murphy, this morning. Those in receipt of HAP or the rent supplement from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection are especially vulnerable in that they do not necessarily have control over the energy efficiency of the housing in which they live. The Department has a relationship with a number of landlords through the HAP and rent supplement schemes. I would be interested in the Department examining its relationship with landlords in that regard to expedite a stated goal of scaling up and retrofitting housing stock in Ireland while protecting tenancies and ensuring greater protection for tenancies. I ask the Minister to examine how her Department fits into that work, which is happening across a number of Departments, with fuel allowance and HAP.

I have discussed the peatlands strategy with the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne. We are discussing the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill at present. Having regard to the just transition in the strategy is also a key issue. How does the qualification for fuel allowance for those who have it intersect with turbary rights? That applies to a specific cohort of people in rural Ireland whose circumstances have arisen in the discussion of the strategy.

These discussions are happening across government. I am sure the Minister has completely different issues that I have not thought of that relate to the just transition and how she engages in it. I hope that she may incorporate them into an examination of just transition and the Department's engagement on the issue.