Fine Gael Accused Of Failing To Honour Action On Fuel Poverty

Fine Gael has been accused of failing to honour its commitment on climate action to undertake an analysis of the impact of fuel poverty on vulnerable households.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Climate Action & Environment, Timmy Dooley, said that it has emerged that none of the relevant government Departments (Climate Action, Finance and Public Expenditure) have progressed a review of the extent of fuel poverty, despite receiving recommendations from the Committee back in March.

Deputy Dooley said: "It is deeply frustrating that for all of its talk on climate change, the government is simply not serious about cleaning up Ireland's act and progressing tangible measures to tackle the issue.

"Fine Gael's failure to engage with the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee is now impacting on the work of the Committee itself. Members have been unable to report on the carbon tax issue because we do not have the required analysis.

"It speaks volumes about the government's commitment to implementing measures to reduce climate change, but what's worse is the fact that Fine Gael's disinterest in the issue is now hampering the work of TDs and Senators who want to progress targeted measures.

"In the Committee's March report, Fianna Fáil secured a recommendation that the government would introduce specific measures to protect those vulnerable to fuel poverty, namely by ring-fencing carbon tax revenues to assist homeowners undertake energy efficiency measures such as retrofitting, insulation and the installation of solar panels.

"The government needs to play it's part now and ensure that it's Departments undertake the analysis committed to in the report", concluded Deputy Dooley.

(MH/CM)