Post on 02-Jan-2016
All-Ireland Policy Paper on Fuel Poverty and Health
December 2007
Helen McAvoy
Overview • Fuel poverty has important direct and indirect
effects on population health and contributes to health inequalities.
• This paper presents all island information on:
– prevalence and trends in fuel poverty– vulnerable households– fuel prices– consequences of fuel poverty– social assistance schemes– policy landscape.
Key findings
• Levels of fuel poverty on the island are unacceptably high.
• Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland have high levels of excess winter mortality compared to similar European countries.
• Single person households and households headed by lone parents and pensioners are at particular risk.
Policy implications
• This paper identifies the need for:
– strong interdepartmental government-led strategic approaches to tackle fuel poverty
– harmonisation of fuel poverty and climate change policies
– development of information and knowledge– regular monitoring and reporting – focus on improving energy efficiency of low
income households.