Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Someone needs to expose the farce that is going on with the ring-fencing of carbon tax money. It is not happening. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, has a waiting list of two and a half years.

In Spain, electricity taxes are being cut temporarily and windfall grants for energy are being supported. Italy has injected €1.2 billion into its energy system to reduce bills. In Greece, the government is planning to offer energy subsidies to the majority of households and the French Government is considering extending energy grants to households. Astonishingly, in Ireland, the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications has failed to outline any plans. This is shocking. The VAT rate must be cut in the budget, as it was for hospitality, from 13.5% to 5% at most. We must deal with this now. There is no point in saying what might happen or live, horse, and you will get grass. Hauliers, agricultural contractors, those using public transport, ordinary people going to work and people who propose to work from home and must heat their houses for longer and use energy are in the crisis now. We have time to deal with it in advance of the budget.

The Rural Independent Group has put forward proposals for a budget package. We must deal with this crisis. The Tánaiste said it will not last. It has lasted long enough and is happening now. There are incremental increases in prices and elderly people, widows and people who are ill are frozen in their homes. It is not good enough. We must deal with this now.

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