Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

There are 300,000 families who are in receipt of the fuel allowance. That will run out because they will have access to the allowance for only one more week. The following day the carbon levy will become operative. There will be an 8% to 9% increase in the cost of home heating oil. I am asking the Minister to give an undertaking that the new scheme to offset the additional financial burden that will be imposed on poor families will be in place by 1 May. Can the Minister give that guarantee now, as promised earlier?

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