Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

On the energy side, the negotiations with the ESB are continuing. There were difficulties with the Competition Authority for a number of years. The core of the difficulty is that the Department is not recognised as a bulk purchaser. The contract for fuel supplies is deemed to be between the individual social welfare client, the pensioner or whoever, and the energy company. If a view is taken that we are bulk purchasers and that we pay in bulk, there is the possibility of a discount. In regard to the charge for the telephone, it is a charge for an actual appliance but I am very grateful that Eircom recognised our argument. The legal route to avail of a discount may be to put the benefits out to tender and have a tender price that is negotiated downwards. If there is a benefit from that, it will be reflected ultimately in a better quality of service.

I wish to stress to Deputy Boyd Barrett that throughout the country, particularly in older local authority housing estates, insulating older houses and farm properties saves money and improves the quality of life. That is the reason that in the Jobs Initiative, my ministerial colleague, Deputy Pat Rabbitte has emphasised this.

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