Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Temperatures are due to drop and the basic needs of some children are not being met. Heat is very important. We had an impassioned and emotive debate on child poverty in the Dáil this week, which brought up the matter of the basic needs of children such as food and heat not being met. Electricity, fuel and gas prices are surging. If someone loses his or her job today and he or she has to go on jobseeker's benefit, he or she is not entitled to get fuel allowance for the first 13 months. Will the Government look at this and reconsider the eligibility criteria for people who have recently lost their jobs to get fuel allowance?

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