Fuel poverty plays an important role in the generation of health inequalities and social exclusion among low-income and vulnerable households on the island of Ireland.

This policy paper builds on the previous involvement of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) in the evaluation and support of local fuel poverty programmes. The paper presents evidence to demonstrate the effect of fuel poverty on the health and wellbeing of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Consideration is given to the implications for policy and practice in both jurisdictions.  The policy paper was followed by updates in December 2008 and 2009.

The Institute was invited to present the policy paper to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs in June 2008.

Access All-Ireland Policy Paper on Fuel Poverty and Health (2007)
Access Annual Update on Fuel Poverty and Health (2009)
Access Annual Update on Fuel Poverty and Health ( 2008)
 

Community Planning: The key to tackling health inequalities

IPH, CDHN, NICVA and the former Health Promotion Agency have co-authored a Community Planning briefing paper for elected representatives. The briefing paper outlines 10 actions that elected representatives can take to ensure community planning tackles health inequalities.  Download the briefing paper here.

A similiar paper was developed by IPH, CAN and Nexus in the Republic of Ireland.  Download this paper here

The Public Health Policy Centre has developed this paper on child poverty and health in response to concerns over continuing high levels of child poverty recorded in Ireland and Northern Ireland and the serious effects this will have on the health and wellbeing of the island’s children.

This policy paper builds on a briefing paper produced by the Combat Poverty agency in early 2007. A range of evidence exploring inequalities in child health on the island is presented. Implications for policy, research and practice are considered.

Findings from this paper are linked with the Institute’s submission to the Northern Ireland Assembly committee inquiry into child poverty on 16 November 2007 and our ongoing engagement with the Assembly on child poverty issues.

IPH gave evidence to the Assembly committee inquiry on child poverty on 6 February 2008. Copies of the final report of the Committee are available here.

If you would like to order hard-copies of the policy papers, please contact info@publichealth.ie We welcome feedback and debate on the content and recommendations in our policy papers. Please e-mail policy@publichealth.ie