Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

With regard to the fuel allowance, while one can never provide enough because on cold mornings such as we had today this is a real crisis issue for people on low incomes, the fuel allowance has doubled since 2005, and it rose by approximately 12.5% this year. While it is never at the level one would want, we should recognise the increase that has occurred. Even in the difficult budgetary circumstances we had this year, to increase the length by two weeks and the amount was an important contribution.

The involvement of the ESB and Bord Gáis in the warmer homes scheme is a perfectly good example of an output one gets from such bodies when one brings people together and they agree to all play a part. As two major supply companies, I felt it was appropriate to involve them in such schemes as the warmer homes scheme so we can help people reduce their energy use and not only solve it by providing further payments. Involvement by such supply companies is right and it is an example of where I want to go in terms of the imposition of obligations on all energy supply companies to invest in such efficiency measures for their customers.

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