John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

No. The Minister will be disappointed to hear that I am not happy. I am well aware that there are many reports published. Age Action Ireland and all the other agencies have carried out extensive, thorough work on this issue. They have been to the fore in pushing it forward and putting pressure on Government. I am sure that was factored into the partial restoration of the weeks that had been cut. There are many reports available but having one carried out by whatever Department - it probably needs to be done across a number of Departments - is putting it on a statutory footing. The recommendations it would make would put pressure on Government. I am sure this committee and others will put pressure on Government to do it because the other reports are from agencies. They are not actionable by Government. It puts some pressure on but while we have had one week's restoration in the fuel allowance, it is staying at €22.50 a week. That has been static for many years. We are still way behind where we should be because we see the cost of electricity, gas and solid fuel increasing. I have come across cases where elderly people in particular have to ration their fuel. They buy one or two bags of coal a month and divide it up so they know exactly how much coal they have to burn from one day to the next. That is not right.

While the partial restoration and the bulk payment is welcome, in reality we are way behind where we were in 2012, both in terms of the weeks that have been cut and the fact that the payment of €22.50 is static. We need a comprehensive and thorough report on the issue, irrespective of what Department does it.