Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 549: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the coordination that has taken place between his Department and the Department of Social and Family Affairs in relation to fuel poverty; his views on the national fuel poverty strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8808/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Engagement between my Department and the Department of Social and Family Affairs in relation to fuel poverty issues relates, in the main, to the identification of and reporting on, initiatives, actions and targets as set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, including the local authority central heating scheme.

My Department is actively engaged in addressing the issue of fuel poverty in local authority housing through the national central heating programme. The programme involves not just the provision of central heating, but where necessary, measures to ensure the energy efficiency of the dwelling. Since the programme's introduction in 2004, my Department has provided grants worth €94 million for the installation of central heating in some 19,600 local authority houses, with another €30 million available this year for a further 5,000 installations.

Furthermore, in order to address fuel poverty among older people living in private houses in the Dublin area, my Department is currently operating a pilot scheme which provides for the installation of a central heating system, associated insulation works and energy advice. The scheme involves up to 150 households in Ballyfermot, Whitehall and Crumlin, and is administered by Dublin City Council within the framework of the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme. My Department is also undertaking an independent evaluation of the benefits accruing from the pilot scheme and the associated impacts on the quality of life of older persons whose homes are properly heated and insulated.