Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
206. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that the SEAI's database of BER ratings and the CSO's database on household incomes are entirely separate and not used together due, possibly, to GDPR considerations, and that this significantly limits analyses of energy poverty in Ireland (details supplied); if he has plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27805/23]
View answerThe Government’s Energy Poverty Action Plan acknowledges that improving our measurements and data collection will assist in identifying the severity of energy poverty being experienced by households and therefore, where additional supports could be further targeted.
As set out in the Action Plan, a research network on energy poverty chaired by the ESRI has been established. The Group consists of representatives from DECC, DSP, SEAI and the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The main goal is to provide insights that enhance policy design to protect vulnerable households. A research agenda has been developed through coordinated effort of these different institutions.
As part of the planned programme of work the ESRI, working with the CSO, will work on matching Building Energy Rating (BER) data with the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC). This will provide a breakdown of the relative contribution of income, and energy efficiency of the dwelling (measured with the BER) toward energy poverty, to be developed. The CSO has completed the matching process and the ESRI is currently analysing this data.
It should be noted that the Warmer Homes scheme is only available to people in receipt of certain qualifying payments from the Department of Social Protection. Building Energy Ratings are collected both before and after works on the scheme, and those homes rated E, F or G are prioritised for upgrade works. These criteria together allow for targeting of the support to those homes which are most in need of the support.
