Increasing numbers may be unable to heat homes as fuel poverty rises - report

A GROWING number of people may be unable to heat their homes, a fuel poverty report from the Institute of Public Health (IPH) has warned.

Report author Prof Christine Liddell of the University of Ulster said the recession was placing more people at risk of fuel poverty, as unemployment and dependency on welfare rose.

Fuel poverty is defined as a household which needs to spend more than 10 per cent of its income on energy in order to maintain an acceptable level of heat throughout the home. Prof Liddell said a combination of high fuel prices, low income and poor energy efficiency in the home led to fuel poverty.

The most recent figure for fuel poverty in this State shows a rate approaching 10 per cent of households in 2007.

The report found that lone caregivers with children were most likely to experience fuel poverty. More than a third of these households, or 37,000 homes, experienced fuel poverty in 2007.

The report noted lower rates of fuel poverty among older people. “This may reflect, at least in part, the extent to which senior citizens have been effectively targeted through fuel poverty strategies.

“It may also reflect the reluctance of senior citizens to declare an inability to afford warmth, or to acknowledge the fact that they have been in arrears with a utility bill.”

More than 13,000 older people’s households experienced fuel poverty in 2007.

IPH chief executive Dr Jane Wilde urged the Government to avoid any cuts in the budget which would make it harder for people to keep their homes warm.

“The current economic downturn presents a formidable challenge to reducing fuel poverty on the island, creating pressure for the development of new and innovative approaches,” she said.

“There have been considerable improvements in energy efficiency in the residential sector, but progress could be . . . concentrated on reaching people who are fuel poor.”

The report found that there had been unprecedented levels of policy activity on fuel poverty this year.

A cold spell in early 2009 caused governments in the Republic and Northern Ireland to introduce additional fuel subsidies and energy saving initiatives.

Prof Liddell said a number of steps could help reduce the likelihood of fuel poverty “such as improving the energy efficiency of homes and . . . better commitment to standards in rental accommodation”.