Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)

How can the Minister use the work of community welfare officers as a smokescreen for the substantial question that is being asked of her? If we have already had 2,000 winter related deaths, is it because the funds to procure fuel and electricity to provide warmth for elderly and vulnerable citizens are inadequate? Many of them would not have the confidence, knowledge or ability to contact a community welfare officer. The reality is that an unacceptable situation is now going to be made worse because of cuts to fuel allowance and household benefits package. More elderly and vulnerable people will die if we continue to cut the fuel allowance and other vital allowance for electricity and gas. That is not acceptable and I do not know how the Minister can justify it. Surely we can look to the well paid and the wealthy to bear this burden instead of putting it on the most vulnerable and elderly sections of our society where it will result in deaths.

See this speech in context