The increase in fuel prices along with the reduction in the fuel allowance could have the potential to increase the number of avoidable deaths among the elderly during winter months, according to a Health Service Executive study.
Age action has called for cuts to the allowance to be reversed while the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said the Government is continuing to invest money into addressing the fuel poverty problem.
The HSE study found there were over 3,000 "excess or avoidable deaths" among the elderly in winter during the period 2005-2009.
The majority of these deaths were due to respiratory diseases.
The fuel allowance, which is worth €20 per week, was cut from 32 to 26 weeks in last year's Budget.
A two-day conference addressing the problems of fuel poverty is taking place in Dublin Castle.
Pat Rabbitte said €76m is to be spent this year on insulating people's homes and the fuel allowance was still being paid to cover a six-month period.
