Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My early intervention was procedural and I did not get an opportunity to make any comments. On the Order of Business, I put it to the Taoiseach that the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, has called on all older people to stock up on fuel and leave the heating on 24 hours a day during the cold spell we expect in the next few days. That is pragmatic advice. During the flooding the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection was asked to look at exceptional payments to help with issues arising from flood damage. This is of a different scale and different type, but a number of people may be vulnerable, particularly older people and other people who may be on assistance payments and who may not be in a position to have heating on 24 hours a day. I ask that the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, through the local community welfare officers, would take a flexible approach to assisting people to fulfil the Minister of State's laudable objective in having full 24 hour cover. Also, as was said earlier, all local authority schemes need to ensure that the heating systems are changed to ensure it is on for the full 24 hours.

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