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Fuel Debt: The Older Population

Fuel Debt: The Older Population. Emer Begley PhD Social Inclusion and Policy Officer Age Action Ireland Energy Action Conference: Fuel Poverty 7 th of February 2011. “I go off and collect sticks and that means I don’t have to buy as many firelighters” (Molly). Older People in Ireland.

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Fuel Debt: The Older Population

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  1. Fuel Debt:The Older Population Emer Begley PhD Social Inclusion and Policy Officer Age Action Ireland Energy Action Conference: Fuel Poverty 7th of February 2011

  2. “I go off and collect sticks and that means I don’t have to buy as many firelighters” (Molly)

  3. Older People in Ireland • 11% (467,900 people) aged 65 years and over • Ageing population: • low birth rates and low death rates • increased life expectancy • population aged 65 and over to increase to 25% by 2060 • 29.5% have a disability compared to 9.3% of the overall population • disability increases with age • consider impact on health and housing policy • 11% of older people at risk of poverty • Vast majority live in their own homes in the community • Less than 5% live in long-term care • 26.7% of older people live alone Data reference: CSO (2007) Ageing in Ireland. Dublin: Stationary Office

  4. Housing Tenure • Where do older people live? • Majority own their own homes - 90% compared to 80% of total population • Asset rich, cash poor • One in ten live in rented accommodation (mainly local authority) • 2% - 3% in private rental properties Date source: ESRI (2007) A Social Portrait of Older People in Ireland. Dublin: Stationary Office.

  5. Fuel Use • 9% in urban areas lack central heating, compared to 5% of working age population. • 21.5% in rural areas lack central heating, compared to 9.1% of working age population. Date source: ESRI (2007) A Social Portrait of Older People in Ireland. Dublin: Stationary Office. Data source: Watson and Williams (2003) Irish National Survey of Housing Quality 2001-2002. Dublin: ESRI.

  6. Bill paying • Direct debit requires access to a bank account (link to financial exclusion) • Use of pre-payment meters • Cash and cheque payments • Income supports • Fuel allowance • Household benefits package • Once-off fuel payment • Social tariffs/subsidies?

  7. Energy Poverty • Someone in poverty should have a disproportionately energy efficient home(Brenda Boardman, IEA workshop, Dublin 2011) • Other characteristics of energy poor households: • Single-person households e.g. widowed • Low housing standards (when coupled with low income more likely among older people) • Low occupancy housing Date source: IPH (2007) All-Ireland Policy Paper on Fuel Poverty and Health. Dublin: IPH.

  8. Energy Poverty and Fuel Debt When a greater proportion of income is required for household energy use: • ration energy use (leads to cold homes and/or mould growth) • ration other household expenditure • go into debt Date source: Lomax and Wedderbarun (2009) Fuel Debt and Fuel Poverty.

  9. Older people are debt averse

  10. Excess winter mortality Effect of energy poverty and negative behaviours around fuel use: • excess winter mortality, particularly among older people; • 2,000 excess winter deaths on the island of Ireland in 2009; • Ireland one of the highest excess winter deaths in Europe. • due to cardio-vascular illness (related to outdoor temperature) and respiratory problems (related to indoor temperature). Hypothermia, cause in small number of cases; • decrease in winter deaths between 1970’s and 1990’s due to improved medical care and increase in central heating.

  11. Conclusion • Energy poverty policy must link to other social policies e.g. housing (environment), social protection, finance (particularly financial exclusion), energy and health. • We need to learn more about energy use behaviors (particularly following implementation of energy efficiency schemes). • Increase people’s awareness of energy use and support appropriate decision-making (one-stop information shop). • Targeting households that require support.

  12. Thank You Contact: socialinclusion@action.ie

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