Strength in numbers

September 30, 2024 in Featured News, News

The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice is one of eleven non-government organisations hoping to put pressure on the Government to halt the provision of universal energy credits in the upcoming Budget.

Along with the JCFJ, the alliance of groups consists of Friends of the Earth, Age Action, Social Justice Ireland, Society of St Vincent de Paul, National Traveller MABs, INOU, Disability Federation Ireland, Irish Rural Link, Polio Survivors Ireland, and Clare PPN.

Additional universal energy credits are expected to be included in Budget 2025, which is set to be announced at the start of October. Because the energy credits are universal, higher-income households, who often have financial cushioning get the same in cash terms as poorer households.

The coalition is asking the government to ensure that targeted measures to provide households facing energy poverty with immediate support and lasting relief should be offered instead of universal energy credits. These measures could also help with the reduction of fossil fuel dependence.

The alliance are of one voice in saying that universal energy credits represent a short-term solution that offers temporary relief to people but does nothing to tackle the root causes of energy poverty or reduce reliance on fossil fuels. They say that despite the universal energy credits given out by the Government last year, over half a million people went without heating because it was too costly.

The coalition of groups are also demanding that the government prioritise retrofitting for the least energy-efficient homes and for the least well-off in society. They also want targeted social welfare increases for people struggling to pay their gas or electric bills. They claim that both of these measures have been proven to have a more lasting and equitable impact than universal energy credits.

The eleven NGOs are also calling for a redirection of funds from universal energy credits towards targeted financial support measures and expanded access to retrofitting. They say the money should be invested in measures such as expansion of the Warmer Homes Scheme and extending the fuel allowance to those on the ‘Working Family Payment.’