Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2012
34. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date with regard to the implementation of Warmer Homes: A Strategy for Affordable Energy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53245/12]
View answerThe Affordable Energy Strategy was developed by the Inter-Departmental/Agency Group on Affordable Energy (IDGAE) and published in November 2011 as part of the Department’s commitment in the Programme for Government to help mitigate energy poverty.
The Affordable Energy Strategy provides a framework for building upon the many measures already in place to protect households at risk from the effects of energy poverty, which include the thermal efficiency-based measures delivered through the Better Energy: Warmer Homes programme.
This programme is a key element of the Affordable Energy Strategy. The energy efficiency measures, which it funds, are targeted at low income families and will make a lasting impact on energy poverty in the case of individuals benefiting under the scheme. Exchequer funding of €23.646 million has been allocated to this programme in 2012, including for an area-based pilot. The scheme has addressed 87,789 energy poor homes since 2000. By the end of 2012, the scheme will have delivered energy saving measures to 94,289 homes in energy poverty.
There are forty-eight actions identified in the strategy that are being implemented over the lifetime of the report (3 years), including five priority measures: a commitment to review the National Fuel Scheme in the context of examining the feasibility of aligning income supports with the energy efficiency and income of the home, the phased introduction of minimal thermal efficiency standards for rental accommodation, ensuring greater access to energy efficiency measures, reforming the eligibility criteria for energy efficiency schemes and the introduction of an area based approach.
Work is ongoing by the IDGAE on the implementation of all the actions contained in the strategy, including the introduction of an area-based approach in 2012, reform of eligibility criteria and continued work on improving access to energy efficiency measures through better targeting of at-risk households. The Fuel Allowance was reviewed by the Department of Social Protection as part of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in 2011 and in the context of the preparations for Budget 2013. A dedicated review arising from the Warmer Homes Energy Affordability Strategy has not yet commenced.
