Almost one-in-ten Irish households suffer from persistent "fuel poverty", making the State's record one of the worst in northern Europe, according to a new report.
"Ireland has the second highest seasonal variation in mortality in Europe. . ." Fuel poverty could be a factor in as many as 2,000 winter deaths, says the report.
Those affected belong to a socio-economic group most at risk from poverty. It is worst among the unemployed (23.3 per cent), tenants (20.9 per cent), lone parents (19.3 per cent), the separated (18.3 per cent), those living in large multi-unit dwellings (17.4 per cent) and the elderly living alone.
"Fuel poverty" is defined as an inability to afford adequate heat in the home, or the failure to provide it with 10 per cent or less of household income.
The report has been carried out by Dr Jonathan Healy, a research fellow at UCD. It is part of a series published by the policy institute in Trinity College in association with the Combat Poverty Agency. Dr Healy is a former visiting research fellow at the institute.
The reports says the Irish housing stock appears to be one of the least energy-efficient in northern Europe.
"Environmental emissions are about three million tonnes per annum greater than they would be if homes were energy-efficient. Ireland is having extreme difficulty in meeting its agreed targets under the Kyoto Protocol and the Gothenburg Agreement. There are also concerns in the context of the forthcoming carbon tax, particularly for low-income households."
The report urges an extensive programme to deal with the problem. This would include an upgrading of homes to improve their energy efficiency, and educational and promotional programme to encourage people to make homes more energy-efficient, as well as a drive to ensure that people on low incomes have adequate income for heating.
The report argues that while fuel allowances should continue, the benefits could be increased by upgrading energy-inefficient housing.
Currently, some 347,000 households benefit from the fuel allowance scheme, which runs for 29 weeks and provides an income supplement of between €9 and €12.90 a week.
The report says that Ireland's persistently poor performance indicates "a level of Government failure" in implementing some form of safety net in low-income households in an attempt to deal with the problem.
"As children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse health effects of cold, damp homes, it is disturbing to note the relatively high incidences of 'fuel poverty' in households with children." Such findings, it adds, are of concern for those involved in community and public health and children's health.
