Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was going to ask the Taoiseach a different question, but this one is much more urgent. What elderly people, in particular, need from the Government and this House is absolute clarity. A Minister of State saying to keep the heating on 24/7 during the crisis is clear enough, but no elderly person I know who is living on a pension will take that advice unless he or she is sure he or she can pay the bill. Unlike previous generations, the elderly are very careful with their money. They will not make the decision to keep the heating on unless there os clarity. We are going to come back to crises where people will deprive themselves of essential heat unless a very clear instruction is given today to provide a payment for an additional week - that is all - for everybody in receipt of the free fuel allowance in order that there can be no doubt or ambiguity about his or her ability to afford to stay warm during this unprecedented crisis. I ask the Taoiseach not to talk about the exceptional needs payment with which we have all dealt for years. It is cumbersome and difficult. Please do not talk about a discretionary payment because it depends on the community welfare officer with whom one is dealing. We have all dealt with various community welfare officers. I ask for clarity. Will the Taoiseach simply say to people that they should keep the heating on if they need to stay warm and that the Government will provide an additional week's payment?

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