Two weeks ago I wrote to Mary Hanafin, Minister for Social & Family Affairs, asking her to consider providing emergency fuel allowance payments to prevent those in fuel poverty from unnecessary suffering during the bad weather. While I still await any action from the Minister I am glad to see that Bord Gáis has responded to the crisis.

Bord Gáis announced that it will provide €1 million towards the gas bills of those most in need as a result of the prolonged cold weather. The Society of St Vincent de Paul and ALONE will receive these funds to ensure that those most in need get additional support.

While the Bord Gáis move is a welcome development it will not benefit those who are in fuel poverty but are not gas users. They must wait for the Government to act on this issue.

Fuel poverty occurs where people are unable to afford to heat their homes to a level that is healthy and safe. The economic downturn has the potential to increase the number of people in Ireland facing fuel poverty.

The Annual Update on Fuel Poverty & Health published in December 2009 (PDF 554KB) provided figures for 2007 showing that 9.5% of Irish households faced fuel poverty, including 16.6% of low income households and 15% of low-middle income households.

These are the elderly and vulnerable who are still waiting for Government action.