Motion urges action on fuel poverty

The Labour Party is to put forward a Dáil motion this week calling for action on the rising level of fuel poverty in the State.

Labour spokeswoman on energy Liz McManus said the increasing number of disconnections of electricity and gas supply in people's homes was of "deep concern".

"It is vital that there is a response to ensure that people have essential services such as electricity and gas in their homes. Otherwise, there are serious implications to health and safety for families," she said.

Figures released by the Commission for Energy Regulation show that some 2,500 people have had electricity supply disconnected in their homes each month this year.

Gas disconnections are running at a rate of approximately 20 per day.

An Oireachtas committee last month heard the ESB has incurred bad debts of €20 million so far this year and that Bord Gáis has made provision for €26 million in bad debts as households are increasingly unable to pay the charges.

Ms McManus said the Government had missed a deadline to publish a fuel poverty strategy promised in the Programme for Government and that the issue needed to be tackled as a matter of urgency.

"There was a commitment made that it would published 'by the end of 2009'," she said. "The Government promised action but they haven't delivered and the problems are getting more acute."