Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

While I welcome the pension increases announced, I am disappointed that there will be no reform of the fuel allowance. Given the recent major hikes in fuel prices it was particularly important that the Government should have assisted elderly people with their heating bills. The €4 increase does not impress. The fuel allowance should have been increased by more and, crucially, the income disregard for entitlement should also have been increased.

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