People Before Profit: Fuel poverty - question to Government

Minister, it's a shocking and shameful fact that in one of the richest countries in the world, one in seven households can't afford to heat their homes or pay their energy bills. 400,000 households went without heating in the last 12 months. But many of those who are struggling with that, 64%, according to the ESRI, don't get any assistance at all because they're over the threshold for the fuel allowance. Are you going to do anything about that to help people who are getting no help but can't pay their energy bills? Go raibh maith agat, thank you Deputy Boyd Barrett for his question. Fuel allowance eligibility encompasses 23 qualifying schemes, which demonstrates a very comprehensive nature of support that are available. In addition to those qualifying schemes, those over 66 do not need to be in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection to qualify for fuel allowance subject to the means test. According to the latest CSO data, there are just over 1.8 million households in Ireland. Of these, 463,910 households are currently eligible for the fuel allowance scheme. That is 26% of all households nationwide. The report I understand that you're referring to is the Energy, Poverty and Affordability in Ireland report. While the report does recommend broadening the eligibility requirement of fuel allowance, it also highlights that fuel allowance is a well-targeted policy instrument in our effort to combat energy poverty. It highlights that the allowance is effective in reducing the likelihood of experiencing energy poverty. I also believe that the figures used in the report are based on 2024 CILC data, and since then we've expanded the fuel allowance system to include the nearly 50,000 families who were brought into the scheme this year with the extension of fuel allowance to recipients of the Working Family Payment. In addition, since the 2024 CILC survey, the allowable means for fuel allowance was increased in 2025 and in 2026 for those over 66. The allowable means for those 66 and over now stands at €534 per week for a single person and up to €1,068 per week for a couple. The amount of savings and investments that are disregarded was also increased for those 66 and over from €20,000 to €50,000. All of these, the rate measures and the one-off payments that were made, have resulted in a significant investment in fuel poverty. I absolutely acknowledge the challenge. I'm very aware of that challenge. We're continuing to negotiate our budget package, and fuel and energy is very much at the heart of that package. Minister, any of those improvements since 2024 have been wiped out by Trump's warmongering and by the profiteering of energy companies, so the situation is set to get worse. The proof of that, of course, is that more than 500,000 households are in arrears currently for either gas or electricity. A massive chunk in the region of 60% of people who are suffering that situation and are going to struggle even worse this winter are not eligible for the fuel allowance. Last night, the government made the shameful decision to vote down our proposal, which and more to those with disability, by taking a billion euro off the billionaire owners of data centres who are getting electricity at half the price of people who are struggling. You voted that down. Do you know what the energy gap is? Is this known? The gap that would take everybody out of energy poverty. €480. Now, if you're not going to do what we asked last night, will you at least extend eligibility for the fuel allowance to those who need help? Thank you, Deputy. Eligibility of fuel allowance has been extended and has changed extensively over the past number of years. As I said, we introduced 50,000 new families into the first-time fuel allowance extended to those on working incomes, and that's something I want to continue, that those who are on lower-paid jobs will get support. We've increased the, as I said, nearly €557,000 million now being invested in the fuel allowance scheme, and we are negotiating, in the context of Budget 2027, a very significant energy package across government. Fuel allowance will form part of that. I would like to know your proposal. I know that proposal. But if there are other proposals, in that how we can target fuel allowance more at assisting people, I do, we do engage with families across the country. We do engage through, I want to thank people in MABS who engage with energy companies on their behalf. But the fuel allowance, you have to admit, is significant. It is targeted. It is acknowledged as being targeted in the context of the report that you framed your question on. Yeah, but 60% of people suffering energy poverty don't get it, and that situation is going to be worse this winter because of Trump's warmongering, the man for whom he's rolled out the red carpet in the last week or so. But yet, while you're not willing to extend it, it seems, to those who need it, the fuel allowance, you want to continue to give €1 billion a year to data centres so that they can get electricity at half the price of the people who can't turn on the heating this winter. It shows really twisted priorities. People literally shivering with the cold this winter who are afraid to turn on electric heaters. You won't help them, but we'll give half-price electricity to the billionaire owners of the data centres. So the money is there if you want to, to actually extend at least, we would go further, but that threshold. It's completely unfair, and people are going to suffer real hardship this winter unless you do something. We have invested, since 2020, an additional 100,000 households qualify for the fuel allowance. We have, as I said, gone through the extension of means for older people in particular, and we're investing in 2020 €290 million in the fuel allowance. We'll invest in 2026 €557 million, and there will be, subject to the budget negotiations, that will continue and grow. I'm going to ensure that every deputy in the House gets the 23 schemes that are available in terms of the fuel allowance and the opening of supports, but 100,000 extra households qualify for fuel allowance in 2026 that didn't qualify in 2020. We've extended the fuel allowance season. We've extended the weekly rate of payment. We've made it easier in terms of means for older people who are most at risk of fuel poverty to get access to it as well, and that is the trend of expansion and the path of expansion that I continue, and I'm determined to negotiate a package for in the context of Budget 2027.