Among the many recommendations made by the report’s authors, Dr Nat O’Connor with Mary A. Murphy, are the provision of easier access to SEAI grant and loan schemes intended to promote retrofitting, measures to ensure customers unable to engage with energy companies online or who need to pay for their usage in cash are not penalised, and legislation to guarantee revenue from carbon taxes is ring-fenced to help fund a just transition.
It points to those in private rented accommodation as often finding themselves in particular difficulty as they are unable to control issues like the level of insulation in a property. The report recommends improved tax breaks for landlords to incentivise improvements such as retrofitting by owners but also the setting and adequate enforcement of minimum standards.
“Families who can’t afford to pay their energy bills aren’t in a position to invest in expensive retrofitting measures. The report shows how the Government should be going much further to make sure these families have access to the benefits of warm homes and lower energy bills,” she said.
Just what everyone wants...more government controls