Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the proposed publication of the findings of the Fuel Poverty Action Research Project; the most recent figure of the number of people living in fuel poverty; if he has plans to increase the budget of the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14654/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The final report of the Fuel Poverty Action Research Project is scheduled for publication in mid 2008. There are currently no comprehensive up to date national statistics available on the number of people experiencing fuel poverty in Ireland. The EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions, which is carried out by the Central Statistics Office each year, measures the number of households that have gone without heating at least once, over the previous year, due to lack of money. The most recent figures available from this survey indicate that in 2006, some 5.7% of households in Ireland went without heat at some stage during the year, a slight reduction on 2005. I am keeping the overall level of funding available to the Warmer Homes Scheme under review and in light of the level of demand for funding under the scheme I am increasing the amount of funding available to the scheme this year from €2.5m to €4m.