Ten leading Irish bodies have joined forces to demand solutions that will end energy poverty and climate pollution together.
The NGOs are also calling for a windfall tax on energy firms, a ban on disconnections, a €20 rise in weekly welfare payments as well as double the fuel allowance with eligibility parameters widened. Other proposed measures include scaling up retrofitting schemes, putting solar panels on social homes and introducing grants for private rentals.
Rose Wall, CEO of Community Law & Mediation Ireland, said: “Access to adequate levels of energy is a precondition to the realisation of many rights, impacting our lives, health and living standards. “They have faced hugely escalating energy bills this year, while struggling to live off an inadequate social protection payment that hasn’t even kept up with inflation.“
Nancy Power, Coordinator of National Traveller MABS, said: “Travellers living in mobiles are 9 times more likely to go without heat than the general population, are 14 times more likely to be unable to keep their household warm and 77% of Travellers in mobiles were in energy poverty. The cost of living crisis has only gotten worse since then... a national energy poverty strategy is needed urgently.