Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

I too commend the work of both Deputy Coveney and Deputy Enright in this area and for proposing this evening's motion. I find it amusing to read the Government amendment to the motion in which it commends itself for its commitment to improving the quality of local authority housing through the provision of €71.4 million towards the operation of the housing adaptation grants scheme for older people and people with disabilities. We all know that a tiny fraction of this amount is related to the reduction of fuel poverty and it is disingenuous of the Government to include it in the amendment in the hope of diminishing the seriousness and gravity of our motion.

I am astonished at the rise in the cost of fuel in the past few months. The Government sanctioned a 17% increase in the cost of electricity in August. We are heading into a cold winter following a cold and wet summer. This is a serious shock to the system for vulnerable members of society, those struggling to meet their electricity bills in the first place and, as has been outlined by previous speakers, for the elderly who require greater warmth and insulation than others in society. In addition, the cost of gas has increased by 20%. These increases must be considered in the context of an economic downturn, widespread job losses at a rate of almost 350 a day and severe economic conditions. The impact of these increases on the lives of ordinary people cannot be underestimated and should not be glossed over by the Government.

The Commission for Energy Regulation is something of a disaster and is another example of the Government devolving responsibility to a State agency in the context of the many quangos established in the past number of years since Fianna Fáil has been the lead party in various Governments. I want the Government to accept responsibility for the hardship being experienced by people as a result of fuel poverty. I predict we will see a serious level of fuel poverty this winter. Older people in my constituency are much more concerned about fuel poverty than was noticeable in previous years.

The national fuel scheme allows for an allowance valued at €18 per week for a mere 30 weeks. This is not even the tip of the iceberg in terms of the costs being faced by people. The Government's warmer homes scheme only applies to 4,000 households across the country. It is not making an impact. These are good and meritorious schemes but they are not widespread enough and they do not provide adequate assistance to the people who really need it.

Deputy Enright spoke about the choices people will be forced to make this winter between food and fuel. This is a stark choice which nobody on the Government benches, indeed nobody in these Houses, will have to make. People who are on the poverty line and those who are subsisting face these stark choices. I ask the Minister to outline the Government's plans to deal with this issue. If these choices are juxtaposed with the increase in the cost of the grocery bill for an average family this year, it will be seen that the cost of buying basic food supplies for a household has increased beyond inflation. The annual household expenditure on energy in 2006 was just over €1,700, a 70% increase on the figure for 1990.

I commend the proposals outlined by Deputy Coveney and Deputy Enright. It is my firm view that the monopolies should be broken up and there should be access to the east-west interconnector. Energy costs must be reduced and there must be security of energy supplies for the future.

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