Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he proposes to take to address the persistent problem of fuel poverty in Irish society; if he will provide an estimate of the current number of households who are considered to be fuel poor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21765/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Enhancing the energy efficiency of low-income homes through structural improvements remains the most effective means of reducing energy poverty. To date, energy efficiency improvements in over 65,000 homes have been made under the Better Energy: Warmer Homes programme.

Better Energy: Warmer Homes provides energy efficiency improvements to homes in, or at risk of, energy poverty and is primarily delivered by 28 community based organisations (CBOs). The CBOs work in partnership with their local network of poverty and community support organisations including public health nurses, MABS and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to identify and address vulnerable homes. Private contractors are also engaged to address areas or technologies not covered by CBOs.

There are two predominant methods of measuring the number of households in energy poverty – the expenditure method and the subjective method. Using the expenditure method, estimates suggest that 301,368 or 19.4% of Irish households may have experienced fuel poverty in 2008. Alternatively, using the subjective method 127,984 households reported that they either couldn't afford to heat their home properly or had to go without heating at some stage in 2008. It is important to note that neither method fully captures the relationship between energy prices, income and the thermal efficiency of the dwelling. As a result, both methods should be considered to only provide a useful indicator of the number of households in energy poverty rather than an exact picture. This matter is addressed in detail in the forthcoming affordable energy strategy.