Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands publishes report on energy poverty

Speaking on the launch of the report, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Denis Naughten said: “Energy poverty, a complex issue affecting many households globally, is becoming an urgent concern in Ireland. As we aim for a sustainable and greener future, it’s vital that no one is left struggling to meet basic energy needs. High energy costs, low household incomes, and energy-inefficient housing make life harder for many families.”

“The impact of energy poverty isn’t just financial - it also affects health and well-being. In Ireland, energy poverty is a complex problem. It’s often caused by three main factors: spending too much of the family budget on energy, not having enough income, and living in buildings or using appliances that waste a lot of energy”

“Households with higher energy needs, which include families with children, people with disabilities and older people, are also more susceptible to energy poverty and its effects. It is imperative in the colder weeks and months of the year that those most vulnerable in society have sufficient heat in their homes to stay healthy and well.”

“The significant increase in the cost of energy has led to an acute level of need. Official enforced deprivation statistics from 2022 showed the number of people unable to keep their home adequately warm had more than doubled since 2021, rising to 377,000 people. There is little doubt this has only increased with the rapid increases in the cost of living over the past two years.”

‘We hope that this report can highlight the urgency of the situation and help ensure that people do not have to bear the brunt of rising costs whilst also striving towards a cleaner future.”

In its scrutiny of Energy Poverty, the Committee held meetings with Officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communication, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and representatives from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Energy Cloud, Irish Rural Link, Friends of the Earth and Irish Cancer Society. The Committee also invited written submissions from interested groups and individuals.

A number of the report’s recommendations are outlined below:

• The Committee recommends a review of the existing SEAI grant schemes to pull together ‘packages of measures’ – such as the ‘insulation package’ and the ‘heat pump / renewables package’ to encourage the uptake of combined measures where a full retrofit is not feasible for financial or structural reasons with appropriate incentives provided for such package. In particular, the Committee recommends where it is not feasible or desirable by the occupiers for a full retrofit to take place, action is taken to ensure that significant shallow measures are implemented to increase the quality of life for occupiers, especially those with living with terminal illness, disabilities or older persons.

• The SEAI should adhere to the United Nations concept of Human Security and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of ‘leaving no one behind’ about supporting people with older homes which do not fit the deep retrofitting criteria.

• The introduction of Minimum Energy Performance Standard from the Housing for All plan for rental properties.

• Update SEAI’s mandate to increase attention on the support of the most vulnerable. This includes a wraparound service for the most at risk of energy poverty during the energy renovation journey.

• The processing of Warmer Homes Scheme applications for those in fuel poverty should be completed within 12 weeks rather than the current 14 months.

• In retrofitting fuel-poor homes, the SEAI should ensure that they can avail of Energy Cloud free hot water, smart storage heaters and energy efficient white good appliances.

• The Heating Supplement should be revised to meet the additional needs of those with disabilities when it comes to energy.

• The provision of automatic entitlement to the Household Benefits Package, Fuel Allowance payment and Additional Needs Payment to people with a life-limiting diagnosis, including children, without mean-testing.

• An operational support for the use of heat pumps should be introduced to combat people’s reluctance to switch from fossil fuels due to a fear of the expenses of running greener energy.

• Addressing the urban-rural divide in terms of retrofitting as rural homes are less suitable for the solutions provided by the SEAI

• The introduction of a Community Energy Advice Service in every local authority which will provide a range of services such as advice and support.

• An analysis of smart-meter date to ensure the best energy plan for at risk households to address the digital and literacy divide.

• More ambitious social housing retrofitting targets and the retrofitting of homes before reletting and greater clarity for councils surrounding this.

• The consideration of an Energy Guarantee scheme.

• Curtailed renewable electricity should be free to those who avail of the fuel allowance with a smart meter as it will address energy poverty and encourage the path to a greener future.

• Adopting a new legal definition of energy poverty as recommended by the European Commission.