John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not go through all the proposals but two things struck me. There is a sharp focus on fuel poverty as a result of last winter when all of us, as public representatives, saw its immediate impact at first hand. In the case of fuel payments, the issue is not only how much recipients receive or for how long they receive the payment, but rather their ability to respond to an unforeseen event such as a long period of cold weather or a period of particularly cold weather. People need certainty in this regard because last winter they were afraid to spend money they did not have. While an additional payment was subsequently made, the initial uncertainty caused great concern. The scheme must be made flexible to take account of unexpected events such as severe or prolonged bad weather. We need to be able to respond in a more timely fashion.

Senator Higgins referred to the emergency accommodation expenses payment. Will Dr. Keilthy clarify how she sees that operating? A total figure is provided but who would avail of the payment? I generally know what she means but will she explain in a little more detail?

As public representatives, we see that the people who often struggle most are pensioners who lose a spouse because while their income effectively halves, the costs of running their home, such as heating, do not halve. That transition period can be difficult for that group. Apart from the emotional loss, they also have financial difficulties. Do Ms. Kelly and Dr. Keilthy have any observations or comments on that?