Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and I wish him well. It is an important Department and I hope he has a successful tenure there.

My question was about a vouched fuel scheme that was promised in the budget. To which fuels will that scheme apply and when will it be announced? In ten days time, the 300,000 families living in fuel poverty will be hit with a double financial whammy. They will lose the fuel allowance at the end of April and will be at least €20 per week worse off because of that, but the carbon levy then kicks in the next day. When will the Minister come up with a new scheme to compensate for the increased cost of the carbon levy and to which fuels will it apply? Many families will be dependent on that new scheme to get them by and to ensure they have adequate heating.

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