Press Release: October 7th, 2019
action will be hosting a Fuel Poverty conference in Croke Park on the 21st of October 2019 to discuss the role that communities can play in helping to alleviate fuel poverty.
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton T.D. today visited leading energy providers at a pop-up Energy Café event hosted by Energy Action in Dublin 1 today.
Minister Bruton said:
“The Climate Action Plan is our roadmap to a more sustainable, healthier future. It aims to help 500,000 homes to take the action needed by 2030 so our children can live in a sustainable world. The homes and families at risk of energy poverty (i.e. those on a low income with poor energy systems) will be a priority. Since 2016, over 200,000 families at risk have had improvements made free of charge. We plan to significantly step up this work. As we roll out measures across the board, I am determined to ensure we continue to protect those most vulnerable.”
The CEO of Energy Action Brian McSharry said:
“Despite progress over the past number of years, including increased investment in energy efficiency schemes for low-income households, fuel poverty remains a major issue. Work being done by St Vincent de Paul in communities across the country demonstrates that fuel poverty is affecting a significant number of people, with families living in cold, damp and poorly insulated homes. This has a serious impact on peoples’ health and wellbeing, particularly older people and children. The impact of a carbon tax on poor households is of added concern.”
The theme of this year’s Conference is community collaboration and the role that communities can play in helping to alleviate fuel poverty”. Energy Action acknowledged the continued support of Bord Gais Energy, Electric Ireland and SSE Airtricity for this year’s Conference on the 21st October.
Speakers at this year’s conference include Tricia Keithly, Head of Social Justice St Vincent de Paul; Sorcha Edwards, Secretary-General of Housing Europe and Paul Kenny, CEO Tipperary Energy Agency.
Editor’s Note: Energy Action CLG is a Dublin based charity that provides home insulation at no cost to vulnerable people. The service is provided under SEAI’s Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme and funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment. Energy Action has insulated over 34,000 homes since it was established in 1989. Energy Action also advocates on behalf of people living in fuel poverty and hosts annual fuel poverty conferences to help raise and maintain awareness of the problem. This years conference takes place on 21st October at Croke Park Conference Centre.