Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I wish to ask two brief questions. First, given that this is a life and death issue - nearly 2,000 people died from cold last year - would the Minister not agree that before any cut was contemplated in the fuel allowance and the household benefits package the discount route should have been rigorously pursued? Second, is the Minister aware that a realisable discount of only 14% is all that is needed to cover the cost? That is realisable and it should have been the first route before any cut came in or was even contemplated.

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