Time is running out to protect Ireland’s most vulnerable from unprecedented winter bills say 42 groups working across poverty, housing and the environment.
But they have written to the government with a plan of how to help the worst off in their upcoming Budget.
Immediate measures they called for include increased welfare payments, doubling fuel allowance payments, free insulation, retrofitting and solar panels on all social homes and taxing energy firm profits and using the revenue to protect the poorest as the cold draws in.
Some 43% of Irish households are already in energy poverty according to the 2022 Energy Poverty and Deprivation in Ireland.
But that figure could rise to 70% if urgent action isn’t taken say charities including AgeAction, Oxfam, Disability Federation and Friends of the Earth.
“It has never been clearer that the rapid decarbonisation of the Irish economy and society is an economic and social imperative as well as a moral and environmental one,” the groups said in their letter to government.
“Ireland does not currently have sufficient safeguards to protect against further price volatility as a result of the heavy role of polluting fossil fuels in home heating and in Ireland’s energy mix.”
The 42 organisations, spanning across the housing, anti-poverty, mental health, environmental and social justice sectors, have collectively called on the Government to address both energy poverty and pollution through direct financial support, regulation of energy prices, and urgent scale-up of home insulation for our most vulnerable.
Roisin Greaney, Climate Justice Researcher at TASC, said: “The cost of living crisis is hitting the poorest in Ireland the hardest. “There is a limited amount of time now before the winter months to reduce the disproportionate impact that rising energy bills are having on lower-income households.”
Clare O’Connor, Energy Policy Officer at Friends of the Earth, added: “We know the solution to both the energy crisis and climate crisis is to reduce our demand for fossil fuels, and Minister Ryan’s new Energy Poverty Action Plan must prioritise renters, the Traveller community and people with disabilities to ensure they are protected in both energy crisis and climate crisis response measures.
“Alongside direct financial support, we are also calling for supports for insulation and solar PV to be urgently rolled out for those at-risk of severe energy poverty.”
Fleactha Phelan, Senior Policy Associate at the Disability Federation of Ireland said: “The government’s own report on the extra cost of having a disability showed that disabled people spend 10% more on energy costs, are more likely to be in arrears on utility bills, and are more likely to be unable to afford to keep their home adequately warm.”
What do they want?
- One off tax on energy firm profits to offset higher consumer bills
- Make energy firms reduce standing charges and put customers on lowest tariff
- Social welfare payment rise of at least €20 a week
- Weekly €20 cost of disability payment
- Refundable tax credits system for worst off
- More for children included in IQCs scheme
- Fuel disconnection ban extension to spring
- Double fuel allowance rate from €33 to €66
- Wider eligibility for fuel allowance scheme
- Free insulation for those in energy poverty
- More funding and increased targets for retrofitting and warmer homes schemes
- €200 electricity payment for all Traveller families
- Dedicated retrofit scheme for those using solid fuels in rural areas
- End installation of fossil fuel boiler in warmer homes scheme
- Increased SEAI resources to collaborate with groups helping those in fuel poverty
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