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

Last week, it was reported that families face paying €400 more for electricity and heating this winter. The Tánaiste has said the Government will look at increasing the fuel allowance but that allowance is very limited. People who lose their jobs must wait 15 months before they qualify for the fuel allowance. This is particularly important given the thousands of people who have lost their jobs due to Covid. There is also an issue when people get sick, and this will affect people who have long Covid, and go on to illness benefit as they cannot qualify for the fuel allowance. We need to widen the net in respect of the fuel allowance. I also ask that the Government, in its budget considerations, look at establishing a €5 million discretionary fund to help people who fall outside the scope of the fuel allowance with utility bill debt, which will rise. I ask that the Government consider these proposals as part of the budget negotiations.

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