Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
88. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures put in place by his Department to alleviate fuel and energy poverty in County Clare, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2990/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has put a range of policies and measures in place to alleviate fuel and energy poverty. These measures supplement lower income households through the Fuel Allowance and other payments, as well as providing free energy efficiency upgrades through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland schemes and the Social Housing retrofitting programme.
Budget 2025 provided a €2.6 billion package of social protection measures to support households, individuals and businesses across Ireland impacted by recent high levels of inflation. It also introduced the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme IV through which over 2.2 million households will receive two payments of €125 (inclusive of VAT) in the November/December 2024 and January/February 2025 billing cycles, at a total cost of €520 million. The payments apply to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay-As-You-Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2).
The Warmer Homes Scheme is a fully-funded energy upgrade scheme which aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in or at risk of energy poverty. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and is funded through the Exchequer and the European Regional Development Fund. The Scheme has been in existence in different forms since 2000 and has provided upgrades to over 160,000 homes since then. In 2024, 7,743 fully funded energy upgrades for low-income households were completed. The number of completed Warmer Homes scheme installs completed in County Clare are as follows:
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
20 |
48 |
78 |
75 |
137 |
358 |
Additionally, there were 342 households in Clare in the Warmer Homes work programme at the end of December 2024, approved for installation.
