Written answers

Tuesday, 7 June 2011

Department of Social Protection

Social Welfare Code

9:00 pm

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm if she is serious about making the fuel allowance available for persons with A1-rated houses, which is the highest rating in terms of energy efficiency, and making no support available for houses with a G rating, as some reports suggest. [14278/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am not aware of the reports referred to by the Deputy.

The national fuel allowance scheme is a means tested scheme; it is not based on the BER rating of a house. It assists householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the additional cost of their heating needs during the winter season. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full and must be seen in the context of the overall level of income available to the family.

Of course proper household insulation is vital in tacking energy poverty. Initiatives such as the Warmer Homes Scheme, operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland, under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have a very valuable role to play in that regard, as does funding from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to improve the quality of existing local authority housing and the Housing Adaptation Grants for older people and people with disabilities. Considerable progress has been made in this area in recent years.

In addition and in line with the programme for Government, I am working with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to bring forward a strategy on affordable energy to tackle energy poverty.

Energy affordability is a cross-cutting policy issue. Tackling the root causes of energy affordability or energy poverty requires action on a number of fronts. Energy poverty is caused by the interaction between energy prices, thermal inefficiency of the home and income. Considerable work has been undertaken by the interdepartmental-agency group on affordable energy which is chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and represents all key Departments, agencies and energy suppliers, as well as the energy regulator and NGOs. I understand the group will finalise its work shortly. Its analysis and recommendations will form the basis of a strategy to be agreed and brought to the Government as soon as possible.

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