Almost seven in 10 Irish households went without heating at some point this winter to save money on energy bills, according to new research.

The findings, from Switcher.ie, revealed the extent that households will go to in order to keep a lid on energy costs during the coldest months of the year, with a quarter (24%) of people regularly going without heating. With the average household gas and electricity bills now standing at €2,060 a year, the research shows that the high cost is forcing many to potentially compromise on their comfort, health and well-being.

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Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, said: "The high cost of living in Ireland means that people are being forced to not just forego luxuries but also to cut down on household essentials, such as heating, to make ends meet. With households frequently going cold this winter, the danger is that they could be putting their health or well-being at risk in this effort to save money. And with potential energy price rises around the corner, these findings must be a wake-up call about the impact of high energy costs on consumers.

"It was great to see the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, recently announcing an expansion of the Warmer Homes and Warmth&Wellbeing Schemes, in a bid to tackle energy and fuel poverty. We would encourage consumers to look into their eligibility for these schemes - eligible consumers can get energy-efficiency improvements made to their home free of charge, including things like attic insulation, lagging jackets and cavity wall insulation."

(CD/LM)