Civil society coalition calls on next Government to take urgent action on cold homes and high energy bills

A coalition of 14 leading civil society organisations has today presented a bold roadmap for the next Government to follow to guarantee warm homes for all, and a just transition away from fossil fuels.

The coalition, which includes Friends of the Earth, St. Vincent de Paul, the Disability Federation of Ireland, Age Action and Social Justice Ireland, (*full list below) has issued an 8-point plan which it says will tackle energy poverty and see all social housing reach a B2 energy rating in the lifetime of the new Government.

The plan, issued ahead of polling day on Friday, was unveiled as households across Ireland are facing another winter of skyrocketing energy costs and bitter cold. The civil society organisations warn that without bold action to address energy costs and heat-leaking homes, thousands of families, renters, older people, single-parent households, and people with disabilities will continue to face the serious impacts of energy poverty.

The coalition is demanding a legally binding Energy Poverty Act to end energy poverty by 2030, addressing income inadequacy and inefficient housing. They also propose a National Retrofit Plan to include low-income renters and rural homes, alongside accelerated retrofitting of all social housing to a B2 energy rating.

To protect tenants, the coalition calls for minimum energy standards in rentals while safeguarding against evictions and rent hikes. They also advocate for increased social protection payments indexed to the Minimum Essential Standards of Living, a €50 Weekly Cost of Disability Payment, and expanded energy supports like an Energy Guarantee Scheme and expanding the Fuel Allowance for low-income working families. 

 

The coalition demands a new Programme for Government which commits to:

 

1. End Energy Poverty by 2030
   Commit to a legally binding Energy Poverty Act to ensure no household goes without the energy needed for basic living, tackling the root causes of energy poverty such as income inadequacy and inefficient housing.
2. Deliver a National Retrofit Plan for All
   Expand retrofitting schemes to low-income renters, rural homes reliant on solid fuels, and marginalized groups such as Travellers, ensuring no household is locked into fossil fuel dependence or high energy costs.
3. Protect Tenants from Inefficient Housing
   Enforce minimum energy standards for rental properties while safeguarding tenants against evictions and rent hikes, with dedicated support for landlords to improve housing quality without displacing tenants.
4. Retrofit All Social Housing by 2030
   Accelerate the upgrade of all state-owned housing to a B2 energy rating, with priority given to the worst-quality homes, and ensure funding for renewable heating and solar PV installation.
5. Address Below Poverty-Line Incomes
   Index social protection payments to the Minimum Essential Standards of Living, raise pensions, and introduce a €50 Weekly Cost of Disability Payment to ensure households can meet essential energy needs.
6. Provide Community Energy Advice Services
   Establish face-to-face energy advice centres nationwide to guide households on reducing energy bills, accessing grants, and transitioning to energy-efficient solutions.
7. Expand and Target Energy Supports
   Introduce an Energy Guarantee Scheme tied to energy costs and expand Fuel Allowance eligibility to working families on low incomes to address immediate and ongoing energy hardships.
8. Ensure a Just Energy Transition
   Adopt a rights-based approach that centers the needs of marginalized communities in energy policy, with funding for community-led climate action and support for vulnerable households.

Clare O’Connor, Programme Coordinator at Friends of the Earth, said:

“The urgent need to improve housing conditions, tackle energy poverty, and phase out fossil fuels is clearer than ever, and the next Programme for Government must embed a rights-based approach to the energy transition.  This means protecting vulnerable households and empowering communities to lead the transition to sustainable, affordable energy. Families should not have to suffer in cold, inefficient homes, and remain exposed to global shocks like the energy crisis.”

She added: “This isn't just a climate issue; it's a matter of human rights, social protection, and adequate housing. The next programme for the Government must ensure that no one is energy deprived and that all people in Ireland can live in warm, energy-efficient homes with low energy bills that are not reliant on polluting fossil fuels.”

“Recent statistics from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) paint a stark picture: one in four domestic gas customers are now in arrears, and one in eight households are behind on their electricity bills. These figures underscore the urgent need for inclusive policies that address the root causes of energy poverty - inadequate income, high energy costs, and inefficient housing. “

 

The full list of civil society groups in the coalition are:

• Age Action
• Community Law & Mediation Centre for Environmental Justice
• Community Work Ireland
• Disability Federation of Ireland
• Friends of the Earth
• INOU
• Irish Rural Link
• Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice
• National Traveller MABS
• National Women’s Council
• Polio Survivors Ireland
• Social Justice Ireland
• The Society of St Vincent de Paul and
• Union of Students in Ireland

 

ENDS

Notes:

Link to manifesto: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/publications/warm-homes-for-all-manifesto/