Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Dáil Éireann: notes that:

— 475,364 people received the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) last week, an increase of 15,443 on the previous week;

— the society of St. Vincent de Paul estimates that energy poverty affects one in six households in Ireland, and is concerned that a significant proportion of households will be in energy debt as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic;

— a person who loses their job cannot access the Fuel Allowance until they are in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment for more than 390 days (over 15 months);

— the Fuel Allowance is not available to recipients of the PUP;

— the PUP rates have not been adjusted to take into account increased heating costs during winter months and households currently have to make their weekly payments stretch even further to meet these costs; and

— many households on reduced income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic are ineligible for the Fuel Allowance due to the limited qualifying criteria, which does not consider the financial impact of the pandemic and the urgent support these households need during difficult winter months; and

calls on the Government to:

— suspend the requirement that a person who loses their job must be in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment for over 15 months before they can qualify for the Fuel Allowance, for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, and review the qualifying period thereafter;

— extend the Fuel Allowance of €28 per week to PUP recipients;

— establish a discretionary fund for Covid-19 utility debt, of an initial five million euro, to provide assistance to individuals and households struggling with Covid-19 related heating and electricity costs;

— ensure that the budget for the Exceptional Needs Payment is sufficient, as well as ensuring access to and flexibility from Community Welfare Officers; and

— make a double payment of the Fuel Allowance to all existing recipients for two weeks in February.

Almost 480,000 people received the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, yesterday. They have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. For every one of those workers, their outgoings and bills remain the same - indeed, some bills have increased because they are spending more time at home - but, in many cases, their income has been reduced. The only new message from the Government for those people on the PUP who have lost their jobs is that they will be receiving a tax bill. That is all they have heard from the Government. In some cases, that tax bill will be up to €1,400.

Last autumn, I carried out a survey relating to household debt. More than 300 respondents shared their stories with me. This is what some of them told me:

Lost all my work and struggled to pay the household bills. Had to borrow money to pay some bills.

Unable to manage the higher bills like electric and ... fuel costs now coming into the Winter. I’m on lower income with PUP ... Now looking at services that can be cut.

Shopping on a weekly basis is gone. We don't have it as bills come first ...

... I'm trying to keep things together for the sake of my family. I cry most nights going to bed, so my son and husband do not see how much of a toll it is taking on me. [Both of us are] out of work ...

The price of utility bills keeps rising. I had to take unpaid ... leave [from work] as crèches could not take my baby, so we are struggling now with just one income.

Other comments were as follows:

Shopping on a weekly basis is gone. We don't have it as bills come first ...

... I'm trying to keep things together for the sake of my family. I cry most nights going to bed, so my son and husband do not see how much of a toll it is taking on me. [Both of us are] out of work ...

The price of utility bills keeps rising. I had to take unpaid ... leave [from work] as crèches could not take my baby, so we are struggling now with just one income.

This is the real life reality for people on the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, today. The Minister's response, in her amendment to this motion, refers to the PUP, the fuel allowance and the household benefits. These are the very payments that the people on the PUP are not getting, hence the entire purpose of this motion.

The Minister also refers to the North in the amendment. It reminds me of when I was in primary school, probably junior or senior infants, and arguing with a girl in my class about which of our fathers had more cattle and going through how many animals each of us had. I spoke last night to a friend who lives with her partner in the North of Ireland. They pay approximately £5 a week on electricity and they would not be skimping on it. Her car tax costs £20 a year. Fuel costs in the North of Ireland cannot be compared with those down here because there is no comparison. The cost of living down here is extortionate for families and those who have lost their jobs. It turns my stomach to see comparisons made to the North of Ireland where, last week, the Sinn Féin Minister for Communities introduced Covid-19-related heating payments, one-off payments of £200 to people struggling in fuel poverty in the North of Ireland. That is what we are doing. The Government down here is offering nothing new in its amendment to this motion.

We are asking for action from the Government, meaning a double payment for two weeks in February, as has been done before when we have had extremely cold weather. It is not impossible; it has been done. It will cost €20 million which will not break the bank. We are looking for a proper budget for the exceptional needs payment which the Minister constantly says is an option for people. We know, of course, that it is an awful lot harder to get to a community welfare officer. We also know that not everyone is comfortable going down that route. There is always discretion when it comes to the community welfare officer, so there is no guarantee of payment. I have asked the Minister several times about the 15-month rule. If I lose my job tomorrow, I get no fuel assistance for 15 months. The Minister has said twice that she has looked at that and I have got nothing back. I am asking for that rule to be suspended temporarily for people who are losing their jobs and, in some cases, losing everything they have ever had in relation to work.

I have asked the Minister to extend the fuel allowance to recipients of the PUP. There are a few weeks of the fuel allowance left, although it might be extended. It is a measure the Minister can implement tomorrow to help these workers and their families. I am asking her to introduce a discretionary fund of €5 million. This is not an ask from me or Sinn Féin, it is an ask from the National One Parent Family Alliance.

The Minister and her Government think they are doing enough. SPARK, One Family, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Focus Ireland and a total of ten organisations that are on the ground and helping people day in, day out beg to differ. They are saying what is there is not enough. That is the message I am getting across to the Minister today. It is not enough. Government is about choices and this Government chooses to increase the pay of super junior Ministers. It chooses to give the head of the Department of Health an increase. It should be choosing to help these families who are struggling in the midst of a global pandemic. The message in this amendment is nothing new. It is a tax bill and nothing more.

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