Government called on to help people living in energy poverty

The government is being accused of failing to grasp the seriousness of energy poverty.

The Oireachtas Environment Committee will today hear about the need to address income inadequacy in Ireland.

Social Justice Ireland is among those urging the government to take a more long-term view, including by increasing all core social welfare rates by €25 a week in the next budget.

Research and Policy Analyst Michelle Murphy says the response to help the 377,000 people in energy poverty hasn’t been good enough.

“instead of one off measures, to address the immediate issues that households face, we need to be looking at long term measures.

“That’s why you need to be looking at incomes across the board, whether it’s through social welfare, whether it’s to put people in employment and expanding eligibility for schemes, and making home improvements more accessible because there are still barriers.”