Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 139: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there the has been a reduction in the price of a cylinder of domestic gas in the past five years; if so, the amount by which it has reduced yearly; the person who regulates the price of domestic gas cylinders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3415/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The transportation and supply of domestic gas cylinders which contain liquid petroleum gas (LPG) is not licensed under the Energy Acts and neither my Department nor the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has any role in the regulation of LPG transportation or supply.

While the regulation of Bord Gáis Éireann natural gas tariffs is the responsibility of the CER, which is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions, the Commission has no function in regard to the setting of the retail price of LPG, which is a by-product of oil. The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated. Accordingly, there is no price control on petroleum products in Ireland and my Department does not have details of retail prices charged in respect of LPG.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 140: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will introduce a fuel poverty action plan; the number of persons living in fuel poverty here; the number of homes that were part of the warmer homes scheme for 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3414/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government is committed to mitigating energy costs for vulnerable households through a combination of institutional supports, investment in improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock and the wide availability of advice.

I am working closely with the Ministers for Social and Family Affairs and Environment, Heritage and Local Government to continue to deliver a fully cohesive Government response to the challenges of addressing energy affordability in Ireland in line with the commitment in the Renewed Programme for Government. The Energy Affordability Strategy is being prepared under the auspices of the Interdepartmental/Agency Group and will be subject of public consultation in the near future. It will set out existing strategies and measures and future approaches to addressing energy affordability in a cohesive way.

There are three methods of calculating the extent of fuel poverty: the expenditure method or share of income spent on household fuels; subjective measures on the part of occupants; and objective measurement of residence condition and comfort levels in relation to needs.

ESRI estimates that using the expenditure method, 301,368 or 19.4% of Irish households may have experienced fuel poverty in 2008. Alternatively, using the subjective method 54,372 or 3.7% of households reported that they could not afford to heat their homes adequately in 2008. Enhancing the energy efficiency of homes through structural improvements is pivotal to the Government's strategy to address energy affordability.

To date, energy efficiency improvements in nearly 40,000 homes have been made under the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS), of which 5,343 homes were completed in 2008 and 19,000 in 2009 (including nearly 3,000 homes delivered by the ESB according to WHS specification). Some €15 million was provided for the scheme in 2009, with a further €5 million provided by ESB and BGE. Of the €15 million Exchequer allocation €12.4m was spent under the scheme last year. Funding of €13m has been provided to the scheme in 2010. Fuel poverty vulnerable homes will also be supported under the National Energy Retrofit Programme which will be launched later this year.

The WHS provides energy efficiency improvements to homes in, or at risk of, fuel poverty and is primarily delivered by community based organisations (CBOs) of which 22 have, to date, been approved to provide this service. The CBOs work in partnership with their local network of poverty and community support organisations including public health nurses, MABS and St. Vincent De Paul to identify and address vulnerable homes. Private contractors were also engaged in 2009 to address the increasing demand for the scheme.